West Tampa

The seed for the West Tampa Tobacco Company was planted in 1953, when Rick Rodriguez's grandparents, both highly respected master cigar rollers, answered the call to the United States. They left the glamour of Havana for American shores, looking to capitalize on the booming cigar trade in West Tampa, Florida.

Their love of tobacco skipped a generation, but it gained momentum when it awakened in their beloved grandson, Rick. Growing up in West Tampa, in the shadow of once-thriving cigar factories, Rick learned the value of hard work and instilled in him courage and determination.

His grandparents' stories of Havana and Cuban cigars in their heyday never left Rick's mind. So when the opportunity to work in the cigar business arose, Rick didn't hesitate to respond. He soon found himself studying alongside industry legends such as Benji Menendez, who freely passed on his knowledge. Decades later, Rick is recognized as a cigar master in his own right.

Always striving to do more, Rick made a bold decision to create West Tampa Tobacco Company, to offer simply the best handcrafted cigars, created through hard work, gratitude and a deep respect for tradition.