The selection here is good. Undeniable. If that's all you are looking for, you are set. Having the attached lounge is a plus. This used to be my main shop for quite some time.
Unfortunately what's wrong with this shop has nothing to do with the...
Read MoreThe selection here is good. Undeniable. If that's all you are looking for, you are set. Having the attached lounge is a plus. This used to be my main shop for quite some time.
Unfortunately what's wrong with this shop has nothing to do with the products and everything to do with the personnel. You see, while the current iteration of the business may be known as the Apex Cigar Lounge, this cigar shop has been an entity for like 20 years. It's changed names and moved around the Triangle over the years and brought with it the same cast of characters, some of whom are great people. The only disappointing part about that is these people have all known each other for decades, and they don't need you. They are family, and you are just a client. I used to spend ~$800/month here. You know what I was? Some schlub they wouldn't open the door for if it was a minute past closing time while I could see the main crew is hanging out inside. I still remember Rob's smirk. I thought I was doing them the favor, but apparently it was the other way 'round.
Admittedly, other than the somewhat clique-y nature of some of the employees and long term clientele (who are a frequently rotating cast of the same people), and the out-of-the-way location (unless you are local to Apex or headed to Costco), this is great shop and I actually miss it in a lot of ways. But I've also never been made to feel more like an outsider at any business I've ever patronized.
Now, could all this have changed? Absolutely. Should you give them a try? Sure. What have you got to lose? (If Porter the dog is still alive, scratch his ears for me) But I will never set foot in this lounge in this lifetime again, and that's unfortunate. Because this is the type of place that feels like if you could have gotten in on the 'ground floor' and been there in the beginning, it could have been a truly special place (And I imagine it still is for those guys). But that was ~20 years ago now and that ship has sailed.
It's a bit like George Carlin said, I guess: "It's a big club, and you ain't in it."
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