It was a festive night at Scottsdale Cigar Club on Wednesday night, as owner Brad Berko and dozens of his customers celebrated the shop’s 2nd anniversary.
The store recently grew by 800 square feet during a recent renovation that added more seating, retail space and more televisions, something Berko prides himself on as a sign of the progress the store has made in its two years. It capped off the renovation by receiving proclamations from Scottsdale’s mayor, Jim Lane, as well as Vernon Parker on behalf of the town of Paradise Valley. Mayor Lane, who has a locker at Scottsdale Cigar Club, stopped by to help celebrate the anniversary.
The anniversary celebration was highlighted by specials on San Lotano and Pinar del Rio cigars, as well as a raffle with prizes including framed sports memorabilia, golf clubs and cigar accessories.
A cigar wholesaler for over a decade before opening his retail store, Berko cites the hours as the thing he didn’t anticipate when he first opened the club. But despite frequent 70 to 80 hour work weeks, Berko loves being at the club, whether it be greeting customers, emptying the ashtrays, or hosting his weekly Best Damn Cigar Show on KFNN 1510 AM.
He knows he is fortunate to have made it this far in a down economy and in a region of the country that is loaded with cigar stores. “Just two years of being in business in today’s economy is a success in its own. The cigar world in the Valley of the Sun is very competitive, with lots of stores and choices, but I think we offer something different,” Berko said.
While Berko could take credit for the store’s success, he says that “our locker members and our regular customers really make this place what it is.”
For customer Steve Colla of Cave Creek, it’s the camaraderie that has developed among the customers as one of the main drawing points of Scottsdale Cigar Club. “It’s a group of businessmen that come here and share their ideas and build friendships,” he noted during the anniversary celebration.
Indeed, Wednesday nights have become the highlight of the week, with a group of the store’s early customers evolving it into what they call “Goomba Night.” Goomba is a term of affection for friends in the Italian community, and the Wednesday night socials often feature showings of The Sopranos on several of Scottsdale Cigar Club’s eight big screen TVs.
“When I built Scottsdale Cigar Club, I wanted a place that I wanted to go to – I wanted to build it comfortably enough that anybody could come in and feel like they belonged,” Berko commented. He says one of his main points of pride with his store and lounge is that his customers tell their friends about it and help to bring in new people who often become regulars themselves.
Scottsdale Cigar Club is located in the Scottsdale airpark area, at 14525 N. 79th St., Suite H in Scottsdale. You can reach them at 480-946-7833. They are open seven days a week, Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 am - 11 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am - 9 pm; and Friday through Sunday from 10 am - 7 pm.
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