“E. Rohan Johnson is the proud owner of Circle City Cigars inside the legendary Cosmo Knights Social Lounge in Indianapolis, IN.  With the storied past of Cosmo Knights, the oldest African American owned cigar lounge in the state, Circle City Cigars is preserving the rich history of the establishment while doing its part in building the up and coming cigar culture in Indianapolis.  While Circle City Cigars has an extensive inventory of legacy brands in its humidor, Rohan also focuses on Black-owned brands such as Drunk Chicken Cigars, Konscious Cigars, and ATL Cigar Co, just to name a few.

Rohan has been a cigar consumer for 5+ years and a cigar purveyor for 6 months.  Despite the short time as a purveyor, Rohan is making major moves in the industry.  This can be seen in how meticulous the humidor selection is as well as in the events hosted by Circle City Cigars such as cigar education classes, cigar rolling experiences, and the “Smōk & Vibez” music series.  Rohan is a huge proponent of inclusion within the cigar culture and does what he can to move the needle forward.  To improve his knowledge of the industry, you can frequently find Rohan visiting various cigar weeks, cigar lounges/shops, and trade shows where he learns about the business and translates that information to the Indianapolis cigar culture.  

Patricia ( aka, QUEEN OF ASH)was born and raised in Lebanon, and became an American citizen 20 years ago. and a single mother to twin girls. 

I have been around and in the cigar industry for the past 10 years. I originally started smoking cigars for business socializing purposes but quickly fell in love with them and cigar smoking became my passion and one of the few things that makes me happy. I quickly pushed myself to learn more about cigars and got more knowledgeable day by day.  The cigar industry has now become a rewarding career that I enjoy with infinite love and passion. And recently became a CERTIFIED CIGAR SOMMELIER TOBACCONIST. I used to manage a mutli-unit company out of Columbus, Ohio called HOUSE OF CIGAR. recently decided to do the job that i love with so much passion for myself. Now i am the owner of CASA AFICIONADO, a Cigar Shop & Lounge located in DELAWARE, OHIO an online store. We are also Certified as Women Cigar Lounge Friendly. 

Meet us at Cigar Queens of the Midwest!

October 13-15, 2023

We had a wonderful interview with Monique Henderson owner of CIGARDEN Mobile Cigar Service & Shade Cigar Café

In 2017 she established CIGARDEN, a mobile cigar service that focuses on educating and cultivating memorable cigar experiences. In 2019 she, along with a business partner opened Michigan’s first black-owned cigar lounge. Two years later in keeping with her and her partner’s initial strategic plan, she ventured away from the bar lounge business to focus on her solely owned business.

Most recently she opened Shade Cigar Café, a brick-and-mortar extension of CIGARDEN. She celebrated Shade’s one-year

anniversary in April.

Listen to Moe shares about being in the cigar industry!

Meet us at Cigar Queens of the Midwest

We spoke with Elle Tennyson, Cigar Enthusiast and owner

of MojoSmoke Cigar Boutique.

She is no stranger to the leaf; as a child tobacco was the landscape of her childhood visits to her family in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

Her uncles grew/sold tobacco. Everyone consumed tobacco. Snuff, Pipes, cigarettes, and cigars.

"I am a working woman, a mother, daughter, and wife. The children have left the nest and I thought it would be a great time for me to work on some things that I love. Entertaining, visual, musical, graphic art, socializing, cigars, prosecco, the grown and sexy conversation and crowd, and a little passive income.

I did a test run for a summer… just to see what people liked ...enjoyed. What people were looking for in entertainment and relaxation… what they talked about..."

And here we are today!

Be sure to follow on all social media platforms!

Today's conversation is with Paula Knight-Osbourne of FUMEE' CHIC!!

Here is her brief bio!

Please find her on all social media as Fumee Chic

Behind that SMILE

Known for her smile, you can feel Paula’s genuine glow from within when you meet her. She is a Cigar Enthusiast who is passionate about inspiring Ladies and ALL to join the cigar community. She fell in love with cigars from the cap to the foot after lighting her first one over six years ago and has been hooked on enjoying and growing her cigar knowledge ever since. Like a premium blend, you can count on Paula to bring the CLASSY!

Okay, Let's Put Some Smoke In The Air (#PSSITA)

From being your GO-TO for directions to KC's local cigar lounges & events to hosting engaging & informative cigar socials. Fumée Chic guarantees to assist in creating a stimulating cigar experience. And there's never a better time than now!

Yesss! Our next CEOs and Cigars interview was with Enid Blanton the CEO/ Owner of Ancestry Cigars Inc
Ancestry Cigars Inc was founded August 28, 2020, by Enid Blanton a Veteran of the United States Air Force. Enid is the first African American female in the State of Illinois to hold a premium tobacco license. Ancestry Cigars can be found throughout the United and internationally.

Ms. Blanton is an amazing entrepreneur who shared so much, not only about Ancestry but about being a woman entrepreneur who is also in the industry.

Find her on Instagram, FaceBook and more as ANCESTRY CIGARS!

Tonight, we interviewed an awesome mover and shaker in the cigar industry. She is helping to put women on the map.

Melissa Whitfield, commonly referred to as Mel is the owner of M. Lashay's Alluring Smoke, founder of Chicago Smoke and Sail Weekend and Cigar Queens of the Midwest.

Mel is helping bring things about for the women in the industry specifically in the Midwest to show others it's not a trend, it's a lifestyle.