Midlands Black and veteran owned cigar shop is a place for camaraderie

I just got hired for a new job, and it was time to celebrate. For me, that includes a cigar and a drink. My brother tells me, “I got a spot!” The spot was Blythewood Cigar & Wine, operated by married couple John and Nyeedra “Teresa” Edwards.

Not only is this spot Black-owned, but the couple are also veterans. John Edwards is a 25-year Army combat veteran, retired Chief Warrant Officer from Lafayette, Lousiana, and an Omega Psi Phi Fraternity member.

Nyeedra is a 28-year Army combat veteran and retired Command Sergeant Major originally from Gary, Indiana (the home of Michael Jackson) and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

During a recent visit, I sat down with Nyeedra to learn more about their story.

“Both of us have an MBA degree in Business Management. We met in 1999 while serving as Drill Sergeants on Fort Jackson,” she said. The couple retired in 2017, and Blythewood became their home.

“Blythewood Cigar and Wine was opened in 2019, nearly six months before the pandemic. During that time, there were no known Black owned cigar shops in the metro.”

Understanding the lack of Black-owned cigar shops in Columbia, I asked what compelled them to get one.

“Opening a cigar shop in the area was initially John’s vision which he conceptualized with one of his fraternity brothers,” Nyeedra said.

“As things evolved, I assumed more of the day to day operations as John continued cutting hair in our barbershop and managing several other small businesses we have within the same complex.”

Cigar culture is a niche market, and finding shops that are Black-owned can be more difficult. Resources like BlackOwnedSmoke.com is a database for Black-owned cigar lounges nationally.

I asked Nyeedra if there were any challenges with the business being Black-owned that other owners may not encounter.

“Access to capital is probably one of the biggest challenges we’ve experienced as a Black owned business within this industry in S.C. While we’ve seen the growth of minority owned cigar shops over the last few years, we continually pride ourselves on finding ways to successfully thrive, and not simply survive.”

If you come in on a Friday night, you may encounter a food truck with some of the best seafood you’ve ever had. Inside, you will bump into people that will spark a conversation about your favorite sports team or joke about the ones you despise (Dallas Cowboys).

Every visit feels like a trip to your favorite uncle’s house. While there, someone started talking with me at the bar. After joking about our sports allegiances, I told him I’m a writer and an artist. He told me he’s an artist as well.

Thinking I’ve found a kindred soul in art, he tells me, “I draw.”

When I ask what he draws, he says with a smirk, “I draw checks!”

Everyone had a fulled bodied laugh like we were at a family reunion. I was definitely home.

The lounge also supports other Black-owned businesses by highlighting Black-owned wine companies and cigar makers on top of your usual brands, with many of the patrons previously serving in one way or another. Being a place for veterans to feel at home is by design.

“Being a veteran owned business has been advantageous for us because it provides most customers a sense of belonging from the time they enter our cigar shop. From day one, veterans have been our strongest supporters. We believe most veterans can relate to their fellow comrade regardless of branch of service.”

Preach Jacobs is a two-time South Carolina Press Association award winner for column writing, hip-hop artist and DJ.