Camaraderie, a calming vibe and a “broad spectrum” of cigars are the key elements that make Dublin Hound Cigars special, according to owner Les O’Farrell.
The big picture
Dublin Hound has been open since 2018 and has about 400 different cigar boxes in its inventory, as well as other products, such as canned pipe tobacco, O’Farrell said. A majority of the store’s cigars come from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic or Honduras.
Dublin Hound keeps its products in a temperature controlled, walk-in humidor, according to the business’s website.
The business also features a lounge with comfortable chairs, TVs and Wi-Fi for customers to utilize while smoking, O’Farrell said. The lounge is open during the week and weekend, so customers can socialize, relax or work, he added.
“Part of this shop [that] was just really important to me ... is the vibe,” O’Farrell said. “I hear guys talk all the time about, ‘You know why I come here? Because it reminds me of being at home.’ It's just cozy, it's comfortable, and it just feels right. So, I've accomplished exactly what I wanted to do.”
What’s in a name?
O’Farrell said he decided to open Dublin Hound after he retired from the medical device industry, where he worked for 30 years. He often traveled for work, and said he developed a love of cigar lounges, so he wanted to bring one—inspired by his favorites—to Kingwood.
O’Farrell said he and his family concocted the name “Dublin Hound” as a nod to their Irish heritage.
What’s special about it?
Cigar-lovers also have the option of attending social events at Dublin Hound, including potluck-style game nights where locals can gather to eat food and watch football or golf together, O’Farrell said. Dublin Hound hosts a men’s Bible study gathering on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
O’Farrell said he wanted to help encourage local men to make new friends, since he has found that it can be challenging to do so for many.
“They've got their family life, which is awesome, but they go to work, they go home and they just don't have friends. ... That was another passion of mine,” O’Farrell said. “By using a cigar lounge, guys can meet guys and it's amazing how many friendships have actually occurred over the last eight years.”
