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Casa Molina Opens New Cigar Shop in New Orleans

The Baton Rouge-based retailer is establishing a new manufacturing presence on the Uptown Mardi Gras parade route.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of two overlapping cigar leaves, reflecting the artisanal focus of a new manufacturing flagship in New Orleans.
Casa Molina has expanded its manufacturing footprint with a new cigar manufactory and retail flagship at 1716 St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Casa Molina has officially opened its new Casa Molina Cigar Manufactory and Maison located at 1716 St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans. The storefront serves as a new flagship for the cigar brand and retailer.

Why it matters

The expansion brings cigar manufacturing operations into the heart of New Orleans, positioning the company strategically along a major parade route. This move marks a significant shift in production capability as the brand looks to grow its local manufacturing footprint.

The company aims to produce 200,000 cigars per year across two locations, with each site initially staffing two rollers. This effort utilizes perique tobacco grown in St. James Parish, which is currently featured in the new Boeuf Gras line.

The players

Casa Molina

This Baton Rouge-based cigar brand and retailer has been in operation for 16 years.

TABACALERA LA iSLA

This Dominican Republic-based manufacturer currently produces the Boeuf Gras cigar line.

U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

This federal agency is responsible for overseeing the licensing and permit applications for the company's planned manufacturing operations.

The details

Located at 1716 St. Charles Ave., the facility is designed to blend retail space with a cigar manufactory. While the Boeuf Gras line is currently produced by TABACALERA LA iSLA in the Dominican Republic, the company is transitioning to on-site rolling in Louisiana.

Timeline

  1. October 16, 2026: The New Orleans store officially opens.

  2. Early 2027: Cigar production is slated to begin at the Baton Rouge headquarters.

  3. Summer 2027: Cigar rolling operations are scheduled to start at the St. Charles Avenue location.

  4. March 6-8, 2027: The company is scheduled to attend the PCA Convention and Trade Show.

Market Landscape

Casa Molina's move to begin on-site rolling at its retail locations follows the broader industry trend of boutique cigar manufacturers shifting toward vertically integrated domestic production. This strategy allows the firm to better differentiate its product line from those produced by external contractors.

Local cigar enthusiasts can now visit the St. Charles Avenue location to access the brand's retail offerings. Customers should note that while the shop is open, the full on-site rolling experience will not be active until the summer of 2027.

The takeaway

Vertical integration can offer businesses greater control over their manufacturing process and supply chain transparency. Consumers interested in the process of cigar production can monitor local retailers as these shops increasingly adopt artisanal, in-house rolling techniques.

Further reading

For more on the latest commercial developments, visit our New Orleans Openings & Closings section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Halfwheel.

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