Another great article from The Republican about Azon Cigars!

http://www.masslive.com/living/index.ssf/2010/03/owners_bullish_on_azon_cigar...

Owners bullish on Azon Cigars shop and lounge in Agawam

By Chris Hamel, The Republican

March 24, 2010, 4:50AM

Photo by Michael S. Gordon / The RepublicanMichael and Madeline Beaudry founded Azon Cigars shop and lounge in Agawam in early 2009.AGAWAM – In a slice of town that some say is in need of a facelift, there is a plush oasis for cigar connoisseurs.

Azon Cigars Inc., which marked its first anniversary in February, is a large retail cigar shop and lounge that includes rooms for a private club and business conferences. Created by Michael W. Beaudry Sr., 29, of Agawam, who is the corporation’s president, the operation fills two former vacancies in a five-space retail plaza on Walnut Street Extension.

Photo by Michael S. Gordon / The RepublicanMichael Beaudry holds a cigar in the humidor section of his Agawam store and lounge, Azon Cigars.During the town elections in the fall, there was often discussion about the street and its surrounding area, which includes the Morgan-Sullivan Bridge that connects Agawam to Memorial Avenue in West Springfield. Candidates cited the need for a retail revitalization, as well as refurbishing some buildings that have fallen into disrepair.

The cigar lounge has brought social opportunities and an unusual touch of class to the neighborhood. Beaudry bought the plaza and its pre-existing liquor store in 2007.

After making improvements at the package store, he noticed about $1,000 a month in sales from the small cigar humidor at Azon Liquors Inc. Noting that he collaborates on business decisions with his wife, Madeline S. Beaudry, who is the cigar and liquor corporations’ treasurer, he said he was aware that some area cigar shops were no longer operating.

He said he wanted to reel in their former customers.

"We expanded on the humidor," he said. "Then, we decided to renovate a whole section of the plaza for the lounge."

He said that with at least 1,500 square feet of space, the business’ total retail and lounge area is among the largest in New England. Next to the walk-in humidor, there is a retail area, where there is Lavazza imported Italian coffee and espresso, along with hot tea, some pipe tobaccos and one line of cigarettes.

Cigar tools, such as cutters and lighters, ashtrays and personal humidors are available. Although Michael Beaudry said the coffee sales are swift, it is the cigar that is king.

All of the walk-in humidor’s products are imported, and there are more than 100 brands. The lines include the Ashton ESG, priced at $24.75 each, and the Malfetano, which is the lounge’s personal brand.

The latter cigar, which is made by the company Alec Bradley, was named after Michael Beaudry’s great-grandmother’s hometown in Italy. The lines also include Cohiba, Perdomo, Montecristo, Acid and My Father, all made by hand.

There is a members-only room, which has after-hours access. The lounge includes a conference room, with laptop computer connections and satellite television, that can be rented for meetings and business sessions.

Beaudry said that about 99 percent of the clientele is male, ranging in age from men in their 90s to those who are just 18, the minimum age to enter the premises. He said that most men visit the lounge for an average of about two hours, although others will stay for five or six hours at a time.

"We get morning, afternoon and evening regulars," he said. "People meet and get to know each other. It’s been pretty friendly."

Beaudry said that on occasion, some customers have brought in their wives or girlfriends, and women have arrived in small groups. There also have been requests by women for "girls’ night" special events, he said.

With three large color televisions on the walls, professional football, including a Super Bowl party, has been a big draw, Beaudry said. Baseball duels between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox also sparked big interest and a party.

He noted that cigars have had their ups and downs in popularity. He thinks they are again on the rise.

"I think there will always be a core group (of cigar aficionados)," he said. "(But) there are a lot of new, quality brands. I think a cigar lounge is the trend. I don’t think that a retail (cigar) store is doing as well."

Posted via web from Azon Plaza