by David P. Diaz

[For more photos of the event, see THE BOSS SLIDESHOW]

About 9 months ago, Christina Fontecchio and her uncle decided to start up a new cigar shop in the town of Arroyo Grande, California. The result was a mafia-themed cigar haven, replete with pictures of Al Pacino (Tony Montana; Scarface), Marlon Brando (Vito Corleone; Godfather) and Al Capone.

PHOTO: The Boss Cigars, Gifts, Accessories & More

They named their shop The Boss, which fit with the mobster theme and also played up Christina’s relationship with her uncle, who is also her Godfather. Christina is the manager of The Boss and she has worked hard to develop the décor. The shop has a comfortable lounge atmosphere with plenty of leather furniture, mobster memorabilia and, of course, cigars and accessories.

But the real key to the shop’s success is the relationships that have been forged between Christina and her customers. I found this to be a tight-knit group of people who enjoy each other’s company and share many things in common, including their love of cigars. There seems to be a support structure and a camaraderie that is not always seen between the management and the customers. They will meet up for dinners together, or attend music performances.

PHOTO: Don and Michele relaxing in the lounge

Last week I attended a meeting of the MOB at The Boss. The MOB is the shop’s cigar club and the acronym stands for “Members Of the Boss.” Each month, club members get together at the shop and will review and rate the cigar of the month. Often the cigars are paired with Cognac or Port. Besides giving a discount on the cigar of the month, Christina tabulates the scores and comments on the cigar and posts them in her shop. That way everyone can see what the club members thought about the cigar.

PHOTO: A well-stocked Humidor

I had a lot of fun at the event, as did the 20 or so club members who showed up. This is the kind of stuff that we need to see at more shops throughout the state and the country. With so much negative press and anti-tobacco legislation afoot, more shops need to take a proactive stance and try to jump start the enthusiasm of their customers. Events like those put on by Christina at The Boss, are educational, fun, and provide a little respite from our daily routine.