I'll tell you about my latest purchase. It was a Trinidad Maduro. Nothing too special about the cigar, and not exactly my favorite cigar, but the shop didn't have much of a selection at all. But that is where the story is...
This little shop in Tucson, AZ, Robusto's Fine Cigars, was the first shop I visited last year, and I will be honest, not the best in town. But it had a nice lounge area and did have a decent selection. But when went in yesterday, the humidor was nearly barren. I spoke with the owner, and he informed me that the shop is closing down next month. He said that after the phucking smoking ban went into effect in May, the business has plummeted, and at the point that he cannot afford to keep the shop open.
Saddest thing was seeing a shipment from General Cigar come in, and watching him tell the UPS guy that it had to go back. That made me sick. The entire time I was in the shop I was sick. We talked about the days when people would come in to the shop, pick up a few cigars, and go across the street to a popular bar/restaurant to have a meal, a few drinks, and enjoy a cigar. Part of their "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness".
I generally don't get on a soapbox, but the experience yesterday just really pissed me off. Thanks Arizona voters who, like in many other states, used a shortsighted view of life to ruin guys like this...