On Oct. 23, 2021, husband and wife Brian and Seana Bolen opened the Smoldering Cigar as a place to relax and enjoy cigars.

“One of the few wonderful things I love about cigars is that when you’re smoking a cigar, it doesn’t matter who you are, doesn’t matter what kind of cigar from a $2 cigar to $2,000 cigar, you’re around people that are doing the same thing,” Brian Bolen said. “They’re trying to relax, they’re enjoying something. They’re taking the time. And so it’s a more of a camaraderie type deal because your background doesn’t matter. Nobody cares. You’re just smoking a cigar, and that’s what we have in common.”

Seana Bolen added that “you spend that much money, you’re not getting up and running around and you’re not thinking about your work. You’re just sitting there enjoying your life.”

The Bolens highlighted how the lounge is a place to socialize with the cigars functioning as an immediate topic of conversation, so they both work together to create the atmosphere.

-Messenger photo by Brandon Brueschke
The Smoldering Cigar is located at 411 Fourth Ave. in Livermore. The hours are noon to 7 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The couple renovated the entire building with help from their family so it was able to function in the best way possible for cigars. The Smoldering Cigar features a room with humidity control and Spanish cedar wood paneling where the cigars are stored. Seana Bolen said that the Spanish cedar is used because it is the least likely type of wood to affect the taste of the cigar. Along with that, the main room has some chairs and a television for lounging and smoking. The whole building features a system of filters called rabbits that draw out the smoke in the room so it does not smell. The main area has stained-wood walls that create a homelike feel to the place. One wall features a mural that is made from the cigar bands that people have smoked there. The Bolens are also working on a back lounge area with more seating, televisions, and other amenities. It also features stained glass made by Brian Bolen. As they continue to work on improving the shop, they also plan on installing humidity controlled lockers for people to store their cigars and come back to them.

The shop also sells cigar accessories and necessities like ashtrays and cutting devices.

One service that the Bolens highlighted was how they keep a log of which cigars their customers smoke. When asked about this program, Seana Bolen said “if you come in and you don’t know what kind it was because you’re new to it, we can tell you what kind it was.”

According to the Bolens, this showcases the major difference between the Smoldering Cigar and other cigar shops: customer service. The Bolens prioritize customer service and creating a community with their customers. Where the Bolens want the store to shine is in the experience a customer is able to have in their lounge, whether it is for their regular customers or people new to smoking.

Brian Bolen had bad experiences when he first started smoking. He wants to eliminate that possibility for others and fill the void of a mentor in a sense. He wants to give someone the complete package for what they are buying and give them a wonderful time. He said he knows how difficult it can be when starting out, so he provides his knowledge to all of his customers to ensure they have an enjoyable time.

-Messenger photo by Brandon Brueschke
A wide variety of cigars are available at Smoldering Cigar.

“That’s the main point I want people to understand about what I got out of building this store,” Brian Bolen said. “It’s not necessarily about the money. I need it to keep the store open and buy this and that, but all the money goes back into the store.”

With the amount of knowledge that Brian Bolen had to obtain about cigars, he has become able to recommend a cigar based on a customer’s taste profile. He compared smoking cigars to wine because you do not inhale the cigar smoke.

“It’s like sipping wine,” he said. “There’s flavor profiles in each cigar. And so you just try to pull those out.”

In a demonstration, Brian Bolen showed how he would find a cigar to recommend. He starts by asking if they have smoked before. If not, then he moves on to talking about the types of drinks the customer likes. If they enjoy coffee or more sweet drinks like soda. He tries to narrow down what type of flavors the customer is more attracted to like floral flavors, sweet flavors, or a more peppered flavor. He also knows what to recommend based on what type of drink you plan on pairing with the cigar. After that, he runs you through how strong of a cigar you are able to smoke. After you go to stronger cigars, they introduce an array of more subtle flavors that call back to the wine comparison. Brian Bolen also specified that his recommendations are in the end his opinion, but he is happy to help guide a customer in any way possible.

The Bolens opened the Smoldering Cigar to create a place for people to relax and enjoy something that they love themselves, and they provide a service that has the customer’s experience in the forefront.

-Messenger photo by Brandon Brueschke
The lounge area invites people to sit down and relax while smoking a cigar.

Smoldering Cigar can be found at 411 Fourth Ave. in Livermore. The hours are noon to 7 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

-Messenger photo by Brandon Brueschke
Brian Bolen displays a collage made from the bands that were wrapped around cigars sold at the business.

-Messenger photo by Brandon Brueschke
Brian Bolen demonstrates how to cut into a cigar before smoking it.