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View Winners → La Marca Cigars
Business Sep 06, 2016
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La Marca has certainly filled a void in the local cigar market, now owners Wu and Dexter have made it their mission to educate as many clients as possible. – Courtesy photo
By Gus Herrera
Ken Wu and Jim Dexter have made it their mission to educate the public on the many nuances and intricacies of cigars. Their establishment, La Marca Cigars, was created to be a local “cigar pub” for the aficionados, while at the same time serving as a welcoming source of knowledge for those looking to get into the hobby.
Wu and Dexter opened the business upon realizing that there was an opportunity to fill what they saw as a void in the cigar market, “We found that there was a niche to be filled with boutique cigars … we couldn’t find any locally, so we thought it would be a good idea to open up a shop/lounge based upon premium, smaller brands.”
The name La Marca, which translates from Spanish to “the brand” or “the mark,” really emphasizes where the substance of the business lies: within its wide selection of premium, boutique cigar brands. “We try to source and find hidden gems – stuff that’s harder to find. We’re more of a destination where people are looking to find rare, smaller-batch cigars that they won’t find at other cigar shops and lounges,” says Wu.
The co-founders focus on high-quality products and all cigars sold in La Marca are hand-rolled “long-fillers,” which utilize the full tobacco leaf. The meticulous curating process takes them all across the country and cigars are manufactured from as far as Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.
La Marca’s vast selection of premium boutique cigars is capable of satisfying just about any individual palate. – Courtesy photo
In addition to premium quality, Wu reveals another important trait which the products he and Dexter bring into La Marca must possess … a story: “I like to share the stories behind these cigars. That’s why we select a lot of these boutique brands, because we know the owners personally and there’s a story behind the businesses. It’s about the romance of the story. When you can associate yourself with a person, it becomes more than just an item … you have more of a connection to the cigar and that makes it a better experience.”
The store carries a dozens of these unique brands and they range in price from very affordable, to more high-end. With that said, La Marca’s boutique inventory allows them to provide customers a hefty selection of reasonably-priced products, without sacrificing quality. “We like to keep a medium sweet-spot within the $8 to $13 range. We are consumers ourselves, so we understand what it is to spend money on what is a luxury item,” says Wu.
Located in the heart of Old Town Monrovia, the folks at La Marca are always looking to welcome patrons, whether they be cigar aficionados or curious hobbyists. – Courtesy photo
In addition to cigars, La Marca carries cigar accessories, humidors, cutters, lighters, ashtrays, humidifiers, and more.
La Marca has also has a comfortable lounge area, where patrons can enjoy music, live sports, quality cigars, and most importantly, good company. Wu and Dexter’s number one priority is educating their customers and providing the best environment possible to relax and decompress. By sticking to these principles, La Marca has cultivated its very own roster of regulars, “There’s a hand-full of guys that are here, if not daily, then two to three time a week. They’re locals or live close enough where it’s a nice little drive, but they enjoy hanging out in our atmosphere and they end up becoming more like friends and family,” says Wu.
La Marca Cigars is located at 530 S. Myrtle St. in the heart of Old Town Monrovia. For more information, call (626) 775-4155 or visit www.LaMarcaCigars.com.
