Smoke Ring

I don’t get to go here anymore because I moved to Austin but this used to be my hang-​out place. A couple of my buddies from college would get together, bring some beers, and hang out and smoke cigars up here. Gerry is a solid guy who knows his stuff. They have a great selection with reasonable prices. I miss this place.

This is a top notch cigar lounge and cigar Humidor in Texas, with very helpful and knowledgeable personnel is there to help you and educate you. When it comes to cigar Smoke Ring is the best. I have been going there more than 7 years and found very friendly place regardless of your color or gender.

Nice sitting area and decent sized humidor. They are an AVO Lounge and seem to and seem to focus this and a few other brands rather then carry a large variety of cigars. The shop itself seems a little cliquish at times and the staff could do a better job of engaging those of us who are not regular customers.

Terrible customer service, unless you know him personally, Gerry will treat you rudely. Go elsewhere for your cigars.

Great having such a awesome selection of Davidoff Cigars close to Sugar Land and Katy. Beats having to drive to the Galleria area.

This is the finest cigar shop in the Sugar Land Area. Gerry, Mary and the crew make this place that much better. They are welcoming, friendly and very helpful when it comes to selecting cigars or even getting ice for a drink!
The Smoke Ring carries a long list of fine cigars such as Davidoff, Avo, Camacho, Zino, and even quit a few boutique brands like Illusione, Tatajue, Byron Nelson, Atabey and the list goes on and on…
Drop in, have a cigar and say howdy!

Okay, I’d been going to the Smoke Ring since Fall ’07 at the suggestion of one of my frat brothers who lives in the neighborhood. Usually, I buy 2 – 3 flavored/​scented cigars at a time from the owner Gerry, or whichever employee is handling the register. Recently, I walked in one Sat. (4÷28÷12), and proceeded to the humidor for my usual selection of cigars. Upon noticing a brand I hadn’t tried, I began smelling a few of them (which are wrapped in cellophane). After a few moments, Mary, the store associate, walked in, and suspiciously asked if I needed assistance. Initially unaware of her of intent, I politely informed her that I was just checking out a few flavored cigars. Apparently not convinced, she continued to «hawk» me for a few moments while I browsed through their selection. Though my «racial profiling» senses were beginning to flare up, I suppressed them under the naïve guise of: I’VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 5 YEARS; SURELY, SHE’S NOT SUSPICIOUS OF ME. Suddenly, she told me that it wasn’t «proper etiquette» to smell the cigars.. . Seriously?!
For those who recall the scene in BOOMERANG where Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, and David Alan Grier were browsing blazers at the haberdashers before the white sales associate began harassing them, this was like cinematic déjà vu come to life (
).
At this point, the racial profiling was undeniable. I’ve seen countless WHITE customers do the very same thing; many times w/​cigars that weren’t even wrapped. Never did I witness/​hear any redirection or officious consumer counsel. Since Gerry wasn’t there, I simply walked out with the intent of returning later to discuss the incident. Upon entering the store today, both Gerry and Mary were there. Apparently she didn’t remember me or the altercation. After making idle small-​talk with Gerry for a few moments, I began asking about various flavored products. As Gerry and I entered the humidor, I asked hypothetically how one could best determine the scent/​flavor of a cigar he/​she is unfamiliar with to which he simply replied, «Smell it.»
Okay.. . now that the «etiquette» issue had been clarified, I began to recount my experience regarding the aforementioned incident. Immediately, he started «backtracking» and covering for Mary by explaining how they have problems with customers removing cigars from the cellophane, not buying them, etc. However, not deterred by what was now beginning to sound like a bunch of bulls – t, I clarified that I had NOT removed any cigars from the wrappers. Furthermore, if I had removed a cigar from its wrapper then I could understand the intervention. But since that’s clearly not what happened, why the sudden suspicion on Mary’s part? Perhaps, any black patron that she just so happens not to recognize is the understood exception to the rule. Businesses such as this should not be allowed to flourish once their true sentiment has been revealed.. . GO SOME PLACE ELSE!!!

I was totally disappointed with this place… My friend took me there for my first real cigar experience… we just picked up a couple… nothing too fancy. They had nice lounge area, when we inquired about it, the guy wanted us to buy two additional cigars to enjoy the ambiance, of old men, football and rudeness… NO ty… The funny thing is, had he let us lounge around and enjoy the experience we might have purchased more cigars. Needless to say the customer service experience was not there… I would not recommend this place.