Rick Gershman at the Times has followed up on the recent sale of the black hole of taxpayer dollars that is Centro Ybor to a new company from up north. The owners and managers of most businesses in Centro Ybor are upbeat, including both owners of Stogie Castillo’s Cigar Lounge & Factory.
I have been in to Castillo’s several times over the past few weeks. It is located at the very front of Centro right on Seventh avenue on the first floor. I didn’t go for the stogies mind you, I get a little lightheaded at times just from the scent, but my buddy likes to play chess with co-owner Michael Dunn and smoke. Typically we are there on a Friday or Saturday night from 10pm to about 12am and more often than not, we are alone with the owner. Some people stop in mostly to look and sometimes they will even pick a cigar from the massive walk in humidor and stroll out onto Seventh puffing away.
Why the slow business (at least when I was there)? One explanation was the atmosphere of Centro. There are a lot of kids for one thing. The adult foot traffic is mostly passing the place by on the way someplace else.
A bigger problem might be that on Friday and Saturday night the Religious and Anti-Religious protesters are on permanent station just outside the property line. If you haven’t seen these folks before they can be quite a sight. Religious folks handing out pamphlets and talking over a bullhorn at times. The anti-Religion folks are just as bad (but at least their sarcastic signs are a bit more humorous). Both of those groups are distracting and make it difficult to pay attention to the business in the area for more that a few seconds. Any longer than that and you worry that one of them (from either side) might approach you to talk, misreading interest in carcinogenic tobacco products for spiritual confusion.
So maybe the owners of Stogie’s and Tampa Bay Brewing Company are right. Hopefully, the new owners will promote the place properly and bring in patrons who will stay to see what Centro is selling instead of worrying about eternal damnation.
Call me a skeptic, but I will be pleasantly surprised if Centro does anything other than limp along for a few more years at least. Stogie’s is a pretty neat place though. Stop in one night if you are in Ybor, smell the cigars, play some chess, drink some cognac or espresso and relax while you watch Seventh roll by.
Jason
3 years ago
BTW, I finished this story Friday and went to Stogie’s that evening and it was busier than ever. I guess just the little publicity the Times article provided was enough to help a slew of new cigar lovers find the joint.
dreaming
3 years ago
im beginning to thnk that centros problem really is just a question of marketing of which there is presently not much or none. i cant see much difference betw it and channelside which has managed to eclipse ybor for a long time now with basically the same type of offerings: bars, restaurants and movies without much retail. if a genius can figure out a way to make out ybor as sexy again, the kids will come back and by kids i mean the 20s and 30s who patronize these places, not the juvenile delinquents. i hope the cigar guy hangs on, but isnt he competing w exactly the same thing across the street at king corona which has the benefit of selling booze plus comfy sidewalk chairs and tables?
Jose
3 years ago
i agree with you. i dont think there is anything inherently wrong with centro ybor. its ybor itself and its reputation problems. if you took centro ybor and plopped it in south tampa, say, it would be another story.
ybor will get its sexy back. but its gonna take a lot of work from the chamber, ycdc, and the people who live there.
Anonymous
3 years ago
Being a part-time resident in Ybor, I would love to see Ybor get its sexy back!! And many of the full-time residences feel the same way…..
matt
3 years ago
I’ve never been to the cigar place in Centro Ybor before, but we pretty regularly go to King Corona for cigars and drinks. King Corona for the most part is rarely what I’d call crowded, so I can only imagine how slow it is for that newer shop. I think Tampa Bay Brewing Company is going to regret where they chose to move, but we’ll see
MIchael Gonzalez
2 years ago
Michael Dunn of Stogies Castillo is a crook!!!
On NOvember 2nd I spoke with him on the phone concerning having Stogies Castillo create a private label cigar for me. At the end of our conversation I ordered 4 of his Cupa Rico cigars. He suggested a bottle of wine which he stated would go nicely with the aforementioned cigars. I ordered one to go with the cigars.
On November 5th my card/account was charged $59.91. Today is December 3rd and I have, as of yet, received the cigars and wine!
I have called Stogies Castillo several times and left several messages for Mike Dunn. He, nor anyone one else at Stogies Castillo, have acknowledged or returned my phone calls. Since they refuse to return my calls adn contact me, I have to assuem that they are crooks and cheat customers regularly.
Athough I currently live in another state, I am originally from West Tampa/Ybor City and still have family in that city. I guess my only recourse is to make a personal visit to collect the merchandise which I have bought and paid for.
If this is the type of customer service one can expect from Mike Dunn and Stogies Castillo, I would suggest that others spend their hard-earned money at one of other deserving establishments in Ybor City.
Michael Gonzalez
Delphi, Indiana
Michael Dunn
1 year ago
Interestingly enough, this is the first time I have ever read this article and the following comments. Great piece. I will respond to the previous comment, however. The delivery of Mr. Gonzalez’ cigars and wine, as well as additional cigars as compensation for the delay was made shortly after the apparent date of his post. The miscommunication between my staff and I during a life threatening illness in my family was explained to Mr. Gonzalez’ satisfaction after the merchandise was shipped. I have since left Stogie Castillo’s, as an officer anyway, due to my business partner, Ivan Castillo engaging in less than ethical business practices. It is unfortunate that Mr. Gonzalez should so rashly choose to recklessly attack my name and character publicly and then not have the decent character himself to send a retraction after his grievances were dealt with in an honest and fair manner.
Michael Dunn
Formerly of Stogie Castillo’s
Ybor City, Florida
Christian
1 year ago
It worked, didn’t it? He complained, then he got satisfaction.
Michael Dunn
1 year ago
Yes, Christian. His complaint, lodged with me personally, gained him my humble apology and his product delivery with additional merchandise for compensation. If you move back two comments, you see that my issue with Mr. Gonzalez dealt with his comment on this blog, posted prior to my being given an opportunity to learn of the issue, that I did not read until months after I already resolved the issue. However, I am not so upset by his comments now. Mainly because I see that I see that in the past two years, only three people have ever read it. LOL! Too funny. Not exactly the circulation of the New York Times this hot Sticks of Fire thing.