How Creekside Cigar Co. Makes Hospitality Part of the Experience

From Creekside Podcast Ep. 003: A Cigar Lounge That FINALLY Does It Right, aired Jan 16, 2025. Recorded at Creekside Cigar Co. in Maineville, Ohio.

In this Creekside Podcast conversation, Dave and Brandon look back on the first months of building Creekside Cigar Co. They talk about the hospitality that shaped the lounge, how they want new visitors to feel, and why a cigar lounge can be about more than choosing a cigar and finding a seat. Their story offers a practical look at the details that help make a lounge welcoming.

What does good cigar lounge hospitality look like?

For Brandon, hospitality grew out of his work at Rivers Crossing Church, where he has served since 2008. He describes caring for people and serving volunteers as values that carry into every setting. At Creekside, the goal is for guests to feel at home and to know the team is there for them beyond the moment of purchase.

That approach shows up in small, thoughtful gestures. The team brings chilled water to guests without waiting to be asked, refreshes ashtrays during a visit, and works to keep the lounge clean. Dave and Brandon also stress the importance of greeting people when they walk in, making eye contact, and helping them understand where to go. Those basics matter especially for someone visiting a cigar lounge for the first time, or even just coming in to buy a gift card.

They are candid that the team does not get everything right every time. Their focus is on reinforcing the standard, paying attention to the guest experience, and leading by example when they are in the lounge.

How does Creekside make first-time visitors feel comfortable?

A humidor can be an enjoyable place to browse, but not every guest wants the same kind of help. Dave says he appreciates being greeted and asked whether he needs assistance, as long as the conversation ends when he says he is fine. Other guests may want recommendations or help finding something new.

The crew sees that interaction as a balance: offer help without hovering, then pay attention to the guest’s response. For a first-time visitor, a warm welcome and a simple offer of assistance can make an unfamiliar setting feel less intimidating. For someone who prefers to browse independently, giving them room is part of good service too.

Why does the lounge focus on cleanliness and ventilation?

Dave points to a visit to Shore Thing Cigars in 30A as an experience that influenced the vision for Creekside. He remembers the lounge as bright and clean, with effective smoke removal. That visit helped shape the team’s intention to do its best to filter and remove smoke in its own space.

Creekside’s ventilation includes an HVAC system and an ERV system that exchanges air, bringing in fresh air and exhausting air from the lounge. The team also installed four smoke eaters, even though they say the room was rated for one or two. They describe that combination as an investment in a more comfortable environment, and say guests often comment on how clean the room feels while they smoke.

The design choices are part of the broader experience, too. Dave and Brandon mention bright, clean surroundings and comfortable, high-end furniture. Their aim is to create a place where guests can settle in, rather than feel as if they are sitting in a dark or grungy room.

How did Creekside become a place for community?

Dave and his business partner Wick had spent years sharing cigars on a porch, at sporting events, and on the golf course. They began imagining a lounge in their community, where their families lived and spent time. When a local lounge became available and a property opportunity followed, they moved from talking about the idea to pursuing it. Brandon joined them as a partner, bringing different strengths to the business.

Today, Dave says one of his favorite parts is seeing regulars and stopping to talk with them. The owners hoped the lounge could create room for meaningful conversation and community, and Brandon describes seeing those connections develop. He shares the example of a guest who came in during March Madness while going through a difficult divorce and found a supportive community there.

Brandon also reflects on how a cigar naturally gives people time to talk. A visit can mean setting aside 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or an hour for an intentional conversation. Guests sometimes bring bourbon, sit together, and make a lounge visit a weekly or monthly ritual. The crew’s role, as he sees it, is to provide a clean, comfortable setting and attentive service so people can focus on one another.

Which cigars did Dave and Brandon mention?

The conversation briefly turns to personal favorites. Brandon names the Crowned Heads Decimo, noting that its quantities were limited and that he had set aside boxes. Dave names a Padrón 90 Maduro as his number-one cigar, praising its construction and draw and saying he generally likes Maduro cigars. For boutique cigars, Brandon mentions a Principle cigar he identifies as Night Flight and says he wants to get it whenever he can.

Key takeaways

• Welcome guests: A sincere greeting helps newcomers feel at ease from the moment they arrive.
• Offer attentive service: Bring out water and refresh ashtrays, while respecting when someone prefers to browse alone.
• Care for the space: Clean surroundings, comfortable furniture, and ventilation are all part of the lounge experience.
• Make room for connection: A lounge can give friends and neighbors the time and setting for conversations that last.

Cigars from this episode

• Creekside custom cigar: Brandon says he is trying to enjoy one during the recording; no tasting notes are given.
• Crowned Heads Decimo: Brandon names it as a favorite and says he bought boxes after learning quantities were limited.
• Padrón 90 Maduro: Dave names it as his number-one cigar and praises its construction and draw; he says he generally likes Maduro cigars.
• Principle Night Flight: Brandon names it as a boutique favorite and says he wants to get it whenever he can.

Shop, smoke and listen with Creekside

• Shop the cigars from this episode
• Join the Creekside Cigar Club for boutique cigars picked by our crew every month
• Visit our cigar lounge at 1381 US-22, Maineville, OH, open seven days a week
• Subscribe to the Creekside Podcast on YouTube and catch every episode