“Bobby had a dream to open an upscale cigar store,” Arthy said. “He wanted it to be more than a place to just to buy cigars.

He wanted it to be a place where customers could come and relax or work if they needed to. They can come and hook up their computer and enjoy a good cigar while they work.

“He wanted to convey a relaxed atmosphere: a place to work, conduct business, watch a game. It’s the kind of environment we wanted and I believe we’ve accomplished that goal.”

Choosing Anthem for the new store was a detail the entrepreneurs carefully considered.     

“There are enough cigar stores in Phoenix and Scottsdale,” Bobby said. “But none of them are carrying what we wanted to sell. We believe we have the largest variety to choose from in Arizona.”

Another source of extreme pride is the walk in humidor at Havana Cigars. The room is stocked with hundreds of different cigars for every taste–cigars lovers can browse the shelves to their hearts’ content.

“It’s the largest one in the state,” Bobby said. “We offer member’s lockers where they can lock up their cigars to keep them fresh. Our membership club allows them to rent movies on pay‑per‑view, watch selected sporting events, have small parties and take advantage of periodic store discounts.”

Bobby said he visited 700 cigar stores around the country looking for ideas for his dream facility.

“I wanted something for the guys in the North Valley,” Bobby said. “And I wanted them to feel at home. The women have their places to gather and visit in private, and I felt the men needed one, too. There’s a lot of net‑working done here.”

To date the concept is working, Arthy said.

“It’s getting better every day,” she said. “People are recognizing us. Word of mouth has been great. We think we’ve reached the clientele we were aiming for.”

Bobby credits his landlord, Jim Wilks, with providing moral support during all phases of the project.

“When I showed him what I had in mind, he said he wanted that type business on his property. He helped me cut through the necessary red tape to obtain permits. And, he was my first customer. I can’t say enough good about him.”

Havana Cigars will also set aside periodic nights for special occasions during the month.

“We had a Monte Cristo Night and about 100 people showed up in three hours,” Bobby said. “We had a ghurka night and 90 showed up. We just had a 9/11 Appreciation Day where all police, firefighters and emergency personnel could come in and get free cigars. We’ll be doing something special a couple times a month. We’ve got gift cards an gift certificates for all occasions. We also take special orders. If we don’t have it, we’ll try and find it for you.”

The future looks bright for Havana Cigars and the Chadhas couldn’t be happier.

“I quit everything else I was doing to do this,” he said. “Now we’re looking to expand what we have. We’re striving for quality, excellent service and affordable prices. I just ask everyone to come to see–see to believe.”

Havana Cigars is located at 4225 W. Fortune Drive in Anthem.

Hours are 10 a.m.‑8 p.m. Mon.‑Sat. and 10 a.m.‑ 5 p.m. Sun.

Call (623) 551‑6431 for information.