{"title":"West Tampa Tobacco Company","description":"\u003cp class=\"font_8 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"color_39 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003eThe seed for West Tampa Tobacco Company was planted in 1953, when Rick Rodriguez’s grandparents, both highly respected master cigar rollers, heeded the call of the U.S. They left behind the glamour of Havana for U.S. shores, seeking to capitalize on the booming cigar business of West Tampa, Florida.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font_8 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"color_39 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003eThe Rodríguezes made the U.S. their home and worked hard to provide for their family, never giving up on their craft, even when times were tough.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font_8 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"color_39 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003eTheir love of tobacco skipped a generation, gathering momentum when it was awakened in their beloved grandson Rick. Growing up in West Tampa, in the shadow of the once-bustling cigar factories, taught Rick the value of hard work and instilled in him grit and determination. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font_8 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"color_39 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003eHis grandparent’s stories of Havana and Cuban cigars in their heyday were never far from Rick’s mind. So, when the opportunity to work in the cigar business knocked, Rick was quick to answer. He soon found himself studying at the right hand of industry legends, most notably Benji Menendez who freely transferred his knowledge to Rick. Decades later, Rick has been recognized as a cigar master in his own right.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font_8 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"color_39 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003eAlways striving for more, Rick has taken a bold step to establish West Tampa Tobacco Company, to simply offer the finest handcrafted cigars, created with hard work,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font_8 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"color_39 wixui-rich-text__text\"\u003egratitude and a profound respect for tradition. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0891\/1477\/1783\/collections\/6be02d_07667caebd9b4d6e9ce8296fcdac1ca3_mv2.png?v=1757872322","url":"https:\/\/www.cigarwarehouse.co.uk\/collections\/west-tampa-tobacco-company.oembed","provider":"Cigar Warehouse","version":"1.0","type":"link"}