Shop Buildout, Part IV

Saludos,

fellow followers of Habana Port! Wow, we are on fire! The buildout is nearing completion (perhaps within a week now) and we are excited to get the doors open. However there is still plenty of groundwork that has to be laid and we are working around the clock to establish a top retailing cigar concern.

In the meanwhile (and in between World Cup play, of course), you can read up on our progress from June 30 to July 7. The humidor has been receiving the most attention with the shelving starting to go up. This took some planning as we want to maximize shelf space so that we may offer the largest and most diverse selection this side of Lake Ponchartrain and at the same time provide a comfortable feel when the customer browses inside. It is a delicate balance but we are confident the layout is supreme. Enjoy the pictures and we should resume the updates by the end of next week.

June 30, 2010

The Smoking Lounge.

The Television area of the Lounge.

The Entrance to the Humidor. Notice the Spanish cedar to the right ready for cutting.

The Checkout Station is a storage area right now.

Another day of Spanish cedar immersion.

That's quite a bit of Spanish cedar. You don't want to see the price-tag.

Before the shelving goes up the walls have to be lined with cedar.

Another view.

July 6, 2010

Measuring and cutting the shelving. The contractors must focus and maintain concentration.

The Lounge and Humidor.

The Entrance with a view of the first set of shelves within.

Looking through the Humidor's Glass Window, the shelving from here looks fantastic!

For right now, the Lounge is the staging area for the cut shelving that will be affixed within the humidor.

A bit more cutting. Mind the cedar dust, okay?

Another set of shelves on the right.

Those aren't reflective globular UFOs in the foreground. That's Spanish cedar dust.

Looking from within the Humidor through the Glass Window area (sans glass).

The shelves are well cut and affixed. We managed to construct 7 levels of shelving with the top flat shelf storing our back-up cigar boxes.

From the back of the Humidor looking towards the Entrance.

Notice the Contractor builds the frame of the shelving and then installs each individual shelf. Very efficient and ensures a correct job.

A little help goes a long way.

Another fine day's work.

July 7, 2010

Good morning, Humidor.

The shelves are multiplying.

Notice the detail of leaving a gap on the base of the shelves. This allows customers to get closer to the cigars without any obstruction.

Almost there.

A smaller partitioning of the shelves when we reach a corner of the humidor.

Imagine when we have to fill this room up with cigars...

Just completed, this section of shelving is going to be picked up and affixed to the wall.

Beautiful.

Closing up this side of the Humidor and working through that corner.

Plenty of shelf space now.

Using the staple gun, our contractor has also built out bars. He is a true builder of dreams.

There is no wasted space in this Walk-in Humi.

Another fruitful day comes to a close but the work remains to be done.

Until the next post, siempre fumando

Habana Port