In November 2017, FatAsh Cigar Lounge opened in Cannonsburg, Kentucky and local cigar smokers rejoiced. But for owners Dwight Adkins and Tom Fulks and their customers, FatAsh is much more than just a place to buy and smoke cigars. It’s a community and a home away from home for cigar smokers from around the area.

    Four years ago, Adkins was a fire truck salesman and Fulks was a construction project manager. The two were both cigar fans and attended the same cigar Bible study in West Virginia. Adkins and Fulks, who are both from Proctorville, Ohio, became friends and started smoking cigars together.

    In October 2017, the two were enjoying some cigars, when they started talking about what they would be doing for a living if they could do what they really wanted. The idea of opening a cigar lounge came up and the two friends decided to go for it with a goal of being open by Black Friday of that year. They achieved that goal as in just seven weeks, a “plain, white vanilla box” in Meade Station Plaza was turned into FatAsh Cigar Lounge.

    “It’s a great location,” Adkins said. “We had a lot of help from friends and our church family.”

    Adkins lined up orders while Fulks worked on the construction. “I think about how excited we were,” Fulks said. “But we’re still so excited to come to work and hang out with a friend.”

    FatAsh carries more than 600 different selections of handmade, premium cigars from both big companies and boutique brands. The duo greets every customer and makes sure to talk to him or her to figure out his or her perfect cigar. “We know what we like, but everybody’s tastes are different,” Adkins said. “We’ll tell you our favorite but with the understanding that it may not be your favorite. It’s pretty interesting to see what people are into.”

    It’s also noteworthy that thirty percent of FatAsh’s clientele is women. “I was surprised a little bit,” Adkins said. “But it is a relaxing thing.”

    In addition to cigars, FatAsh also carries cigar lifestyle accessories. “There are so many hobbies within the hobby,” Adkins said.

    Adjoining the large humidor where customers can select their cigars is a lounge with comfortable seating and flat screen TVs, allowing customers to relax and enjoy their purchases on-site if they choose. An outdoor patio with a fire pit is also available for customers.

    FatAsh offers a members-only private lounge for a $600 annual membership fee. The lounge offers special perks and lockers for members to store cigars and other personal items. All 48 of them are taken with a waiting list of more than 20 people.

    The lounge and patio host many events throughout the year, including cigar events, live music, karaoke, and, of course, a bi-weekly Saturday morning Bible study.

    “It’s never what people are expecting,” Adkins said. “And that’s one of the most exciting things for us. It’s so important for us to get new faces.”

    And FatAsh continues to get new faces on a daily basis, from as far away as Lexington, Kentucky thanks to word of mouth and an active presence on Facebook. Adkins and Fulks knew they were on to something special when their grand opening event in January 2018 was attended by more than 150 people. Fulks estimates they sold 50,000 cigars in their first year, doubling their projections and doubling and even tripling the expectations of their cigar sales representatives. “Our vendors say it’s amazing what we’re doing here,” Fulks said.

    “We give God all the credit,” Adkins said. “It’s nothing short of miraculous the blessings that we have.”

    Adkins and Fulks also acknowledge the role their wives, Tina and Shannon, have played in their success. “We both have supportive wives,” Fulks said. “We are truly blessed.”

    Regular customer Scott Whitson believes it’s Adkins and Fulks who have made FatAsh what it is. “Two other guys could have opened it and it would have done okay,” Whitson said. “But with these two, it’s become something special. They know a lot, they’re helpful and they have a great work ethic.”

     Whitson, who is from the Ashland area, also credits Adkins and Fulks with the community they have created. He compares it to the bar from the classic sitcom “Cheers.” “It’s like a club you join as soon as you walk in the door. Once you’re here, you do belong here.”

    It’s creating a community that was the true goal of Adkins and Fulks when they decided to open the lounge. And they’ve succeeded beyond their expectations.

            “Everyone is on a level playing field enjoying time together,” Fulks said. “Everyone feels at home. It’s amazing how many true friends we have made through this. It’s a neat community.”

    Whitson takes the description one step further. “It’s a family,” he said.

    And Adkins and Fulks have no intention of separating that family anytime soon. “We love what we do,” Adkins said, “This is a job you retire to. I hope to be doing this until the day I die. It’s a joy.”