Stogie’s Puffs Up

On Dec. 1, Stogie’s Fine Cigars, Tobaccos and Much More was scheduled to go through a major expansion and reorganization.

Grant Harasyn, owner of the business, which has stores in Rogers, Fayetteville and Eureka Springs, says that’s the day he was to triple the size of his distribution service, start franchising his stores, and sell his bar, Stogie’s Friends in Rogers, to his employees. Within the next year, Harasyn hopes to open another 10 stores.

The Rogers bar will remain open as usual, as will the Stogie’s cigar shop in the same building. Also on Dec. 1, J.D. Denson, the manager of Stogie’s Friends was scheduled to purchase the Stogie’s store in the Old Post Office building on the downtown Fayetteville square.

Harasyn opened the first Stogie’s in Rogers in October 1995. Currently, his full-service distribution business supplies tobacco and accessories to about 140 clients in Arkansas and Oklahoma, including restaurants, bars and retail tobacco outlets.

Harasyn says he plans to put four additional salesmen on the road (bringing the total to six) next month. Also, the company will lease a new warehouse in Rogers that will allow him to triple the size of his humidor to 1,500 SF.

Harasyn says the new operation will be able to have new stock on shelves within 48 hours after orders are placed by retail and food outlets.