![]() It was a huge success, and the critics were forever silenced. Chateau de la Fuente Tobacco Plantation was born and produced its first wrapper crop in 1992. They owned land with fertile soil in Caribe, approximately one hour from Santiago, and offered to grow wrappers. The Oliva family of Oliva Tobacco had always supported the Fuentes and agreed with Carlito that the wrapper could be successfully grown. Nevertheless, Carlos Sr believed in his son and encouraged him to pursue his idea. Critics had long noted that conditions on the island would not allow the growth of quality wrappers others had tried and failed. He went to his father and said he wanted to make a cigar using all Dominican tobacco, including the wrapper. However, Carlos Sr’s son, Carlito, was always looking for new challenges and came up with an idea to take the business in a new direction. Fuente prospered, and a strong reputation was built in the world of cigar making. A partnership was created, and both families have continued their strong business relationship over the years. During these discussions, the Newman’s asked if Carlos would be interested in manufacturing some handmade cigars for them. Newman Cigars to see if they would be interested in producing their machine-made cigar brands. Fuente y Compania.ĭuring the mid to late 1980s, Fuente's handmade operations continued to grow in the Dominican Republic, and business demands made it difficult to continue their machine-made brands in Tampa. He found property in the Dominican Republic, an excellent place to rebuild Tabacalera A. Most people would have given up at this point and moved back home, but Carlos remembered that his father did not let fire defeat him, and neither did he. Feeling it would be best to leave this war-torn country, he started a company in Honduras, but fire eventually destroyed that factory. Political unrest occurred, and Sandinista rebels burned his cigar factory. He later learned he would face complex challenges as he started his factory in Nicaragua. for new resources to produce cigars.Ĭarlos knew he had to leave Tampa, so he mortgaged his home and raised as much money as possible. As a result, cigar manufacturers actively looked outside the U.S. In addition, because of the Cuban embargo years earlier, tobacco prices had risen. Machines were taking over, and cigar makers skilled at hand rolling cigars were becoming rare. economy was hurting, and finding skilled labor became difficult. Arturo wanted his son to take over the business, and Carlos agreed but wanted to do it legally by purchasing it from his father for $1.Įven before Arturo passed away, the Fuentes faced complex challenges in the cigar industry. Through the years, his youngest son Carlos was most interested in cigar making. He had been in the cigar business all his life, and he felt it was time for the next generation of Fuentes to take over. At this time, Arturo was in his late 60s and wanted to slow down. The family lived upstairs, and the factory was downstairs. In the mid-1950s, the factory was relocated to a two-story wooden structure at 2708 N. The lights at the Fuente home would be on most evenings until 12 or 1 A.M. Once the work was completed, the furniture would be moved back inside. Arturo's wife, Christina, assisted in the cigar-making and cooked dinner for everyone. It was common for people in the neighborhood to see the Fuente family putting their furniture out on the front porch to make room inside the house to work. When they came home from school, each was expected to roll 50 cigars before they could go outside to play.Īrturo would convince family, friends, and neighbors to come to the house in the evening after work to help him. He taught his two young sons, Arturo Jr and Carlos, the art of blending tobacco and making handmade cigars. As his operation grew, he had to add on to the back of the house several times, eventually moving his cigar rolling inside. He started rolling cigars on the back porch of his home on 13th Avenue in Ybor City, surrounded by his chickens and cows.
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