Royal Havana Cigars Opens at North End of Willoughby

Owner Dave Somrack shows off the humidified locker room at Royal Havana Cigars.

A class of ’81 Lake Catholic graduate is bringing a little Cuban flavor to the North end of Willoughby.

David Somrack recently opened Royal Havana Cigars at 38448 Lake Shore Blvd., after failing to find a cigar shop that met his needs.

“Coming back I was not happy with the seating capacity and atmosphere of other cigar shops,” he says.

Somrack’s love of cigars began after he moved to Los Angeles in 1983. A brief trip to Havana, Cuba in 1994 to work with his brother on a documentary allowed him to refine his taste and discover which cigars are the best. He permanently moved to Cuba in 2004 and lived in Havana until 2006 before moving back to Lake County.

Somrack modeled his cigar shop as a 1960’s living room, avoiding bright lights and incorporating special elements such as hand painted floor tiles imported from the Dominican Republic.

“Smoking cigars is more than just the act of getting nicotine. It’s as a social interaction,” he says. “I wanted to make it like you’re sitting in your living room.”

Royal Havana Cigars carries more than 1,000 cigar brands priced between $6 and $10.

Featured Royal Havana Cigar Brands:
Arturo Fuente
Oliva
Rocky Patel
Alec Bradley
La Flor Dominicana
Padron
Perdomo
La Gloria Cubana

Royal Havana Cigars also carries some Brazilian varieties including Monte Paseol and Roxor. In addition, the shop features a custom blend called Caribbean Humo, hand rolled by Somrack’s wife.

Another feature the Royal Havana Cigars offers is humidified lockers, a storage area for frequent cigar smokers. Somrack provides the lockers as a way to provide customer perks such as discounts and limited edition cigars.

“You’re only in business because of your clients. So, I try to give them a good experience,” Somrack says.

Cigar Tips from Owner Dave Somrack:

The intensity of the cigar is correlated to the color of the wrapper.
The lighter the wrapper, the lighter the smoke.
As taste buds mature, a person can move to a stronger cigar such as Habano or Maduro.

Shop Hours:

Monday -Thursday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.