Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad Carey.
Hi Brad, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Rolling Stogies Mobile Cigar is a Veteran Owned business in Temple, Texas. I served 19 years in the Army as an Abrams System Maintainer. I am a retired Disabled Combat Veteran with five deployments to Iraq and others to Kuwait to train the Kuwaiti Army. I have been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and Bronze Star for actions in Iraq and my service in the Army.
I got into cigars while being deployed to Iraq in 2004. It was a great way to decompress after missions or just long days of work. Some battle buddies and myself would sit outside and talk while enjoying our cigars. Once I got back home to the states, I started getting more into them as I was able to go to smoke shops and find a lot more options.
Fast forward to 2021, I was working for the Department of Veterans Affairs and just wasn’t happy with my job, I wanted something of my own, something that was different as well as something I enjoyed. So I started looking into mobile cigar shops and nothing existed here. So that’s when I made up my mind to put it in motion. Quit my job with the VA after getting all the licenses and permits needed, as well as talking with businesses to gauge interest in setups. Now I do a lot of different setups with Breweries and Wineries from Waco to the Austin areas. Rolling Stogies Mobile Cigar office and where we will have a humidor full time as well as setups every Sunday 12-5 at 3 Texans Winery and Vineyard 7536 FM2409 Temple, TX 76504.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t been exactly easy. My first idea of doing a mobile walk in humidor got shot down from various avenues from the state having issues with it to even insurance issues with it. Combine that with getting the required permits, having to have a commercial office space just to store records at so if Texas Comp wants to do an inspection. One of the biggest things was selling the idea to different business of how their customers will enjoy having me setup. Explaining that cigars don’t just go with Whiskey or Bourbon. That done right a nice cigar will pair well with beer and wine as well.
The great thing is I have had a lot of mentors help with advice and ideas along my way. I got lucky with Kim the owner of three Texans Winery, helping me out with the office space. JD one of the owner of Fire Base Brewing Company, giving me a shot at my first setup. Which I now work with both frequently doing setups for their different events as well with future plans of putting humidors in both places.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I do setups every weekend at different places from Waco to the Austin areas with different breweries, wineries, car shows, weddings and military events. Depending on location and weather I setup inside or outside and bring 30-40 different cigars. I’d say what sets me apart from others is the fact I am mobile. Then their is my ability to help you pick the right cigar for your beverage of choice. Which to many people’s surprise, I don’t always recommend the most expensive cigar.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Seeing new cigar smokers or avid cigar smokers taking my advice and pairing the cigar I recommended with their drinks and telling me I was spot on. Knowing I recommended the right combination with their drink and the cigar and drink complement each other. Also, when I recommend a cigar and days later the customer emails/calls and tells me how good it was and then wants to order a whole box.
Pricing:
- 8-22 per cigar
Contact Info:
- Email: rolling.stogies2021@gmail.com
- Instagram: Rolling.Stogies.Mobile.Cigar
- Facebook: Rolling Stogies Mobile Cigar
- Twitter: @rolling_stogies
- Other: https://parkbench.com/directory/rolling-stogies-mobile-cigar
