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Written by Staff
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Thursday, 29 May 2008 09:40
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Jesus
Castanon first learned to roll cigars in his native Cuba. Recently, the York
resident, 35, and his wife and business partner, Xenia Hernandez, purchased
Hain's Pipe and Cigar Shop on South George Street in York, where he continues
his age-old art of cigar rolling.
"We're trying to settle here ... I really like the place," Castanon said of
York. The husband and wife, who have three children, moved to the United States
from Cuba more than a month ago. "When I meet a new customer, I give them a
sample, and they keep coming back," he said. Although it changed locations in
York a couple times, Hain's is more than 115 years old and one of the oldest
shops of its kind in the country. The name of the historic shop will remain the
same, but new services such as fresh hand-rolled cigars, special events,
furniture and a big-screen TV will be offered, he said.
Castanon said the quality of a cigar is determined by the craftsmanship in its
rolling, how it feels and the way it burns. "How it looks ... the flavor of the
tobacco, the taste, the construction of the cigar burning evenly" is how he
described a good cigar.
Castanon said he purchased Hain's from Steve Cottrill, who bought the business
in 2005. "I was a cigar smoker," Cottrill said at that time. "I started coming
here about two years ago as a customer. I had become friends with the previous
owner and there was an opportunity to purchase the place . . . It's a great
place to come and have a smoke . . . to relax and enjoy a few hours."
Castanon shared a similar sentiment. However, he hopes to bring more of a Cuban
flavor to the cigar shop.
"I have unique cigars," he said. "It's a new era here at Hain's."
Havana in York Event
The new owners of Hain's Pipe and Cigar Shop, 225 S. George St. in York, are
planning "Havana in York," an event that will feature Cuban food, drinks and a
sampling of premium cigars.
The event will be 6 p.m. June 6.
Tickets are $50 per person.
To register, visit the shop or call 717-843-2237.
Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. Saturdays.
