Through the college years and shortly thereafter I was smoking the best cigars I could get my hands on. Frequenting as many tobacconist I could find with my limited travel. These early years and the moments I had smoking cigars have been the foundation of my cigar palate. Cigars have always been a part of the most significant moments in my life and probably yours as well; a new job, birthdays, graduations, the birth of a child, weddings, etc. In 1995, while traveling for my job, I began to notice the overall vibe in the shops I visited. Watching the employees, the owners, and clientele enjoy themselves inspired me, so I started to develop my dream.

The corporate life was very good, but the time for any personal ventures was slim. After a year and half of orchestrating my exit from the corporate world, researching the industry, understanding pricing, and all the many other items required to open a retail store I was ready to launch my new venture. Dundee Cigars and Tobacco opened in an old shoe repair shop next to Pestals Barber Shop in the Dundee neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska. The store opened in the height of the cigar renaissance of 1997 and cigar product was extremely hard to come by. I managed and with perseverance the store was a success. This prompted growth which lead to the acquisition of S.G. Roi Tobacconist located in the Old Market in the summer of 1998. After a short while I closed the Dundee store and sold my interests. It was a great experience, but a new and much larger adventure lay ahead.

Tobacco stores Omaha