![]() ![]() Photo: Brenda HolderfieldĪs with the travail of giving birth, most entrepreneurs go through labor pains of their own, and Joe is no exception. On October 3rd, The Sun News ran my story about Joe and the truck. On Sunday, October 11, we went down to Tidal Creek Brewhouse in Myrtle Beach to check out the debut of my friend Joe Czapla’s new zero-waste food truck, NO FKS Given. My experience with the organization began in 1996. The cool thing about all of this is that, as with cigar producers, Tinder Box of the Carolinas is essentially a family business. Our organization is renowned in the cigar industry, not only by virtue of the longevity of the business and the relationships forged and nurtured with key cigar families, but also due in no small part to Craig’s efforts within the industry, from taking on the Goliath of governmental regulatory overreach as well as his service within organizations such as the Premium Cigar Association (PCA), Cigar Rights of America (CRA) and more.Įxempting premium cigars from FDA regulation is a continuing fight that goes to the lifeblood of the industry, to say nothing of the mom-and-pop businesses that don’t enjoy the deep pockets of their monolithic corporate counterparts. Craig’s sister (my sister-in-law), Betsy Yale, helms the Myrtle Beach location. Jim, thankfully, is still around, and lives with wife Martha in Myrtle Beach – but Tinder Box of the Carolinas is now generational – headed up by Jim’s son, Craig Cass, in Charlotte. What began in Winston eventually became multiple stores in the Carolinas – and there was a location in Roanoke, Virginia for a time. Jim started that store as a hobby while he was engaged in his career with R.J. ![]() The franchise opportunity became available in 1973, and Chris’ father-in-law, Jim Cass, was one of the first on board – launching his first shop at the Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, North Carolina – essentially opening up the Mid-Atlantic region. A ninety-year run is nothing if not astonishing. Sadly, that store closed its doors for good in 2017. Tinder Box was started in Los Angeles in 1928 by a tobacconist named Ed Koplin, Sr. I remember seeing such stores when I was younger – in places like Miami and in many locations in Southern California like the Mall of Orange, the Glendale Galleria and more. The Cigar Boom in the late 1990s/Early 2000s changed the landscape. ![]() It seemed that whatever mall you happened to enter, the probability that you would pass a Tinder Box franchise was very high. In the 70s and 80s, you couldn’t miss the small stores with Tudor facades and tiny walk-in humidors and all sorts of briar pipes, tobaccos and collectibles throughout. If you are of a certain age like I am, you’ll remember Tinder Box. In my case, I work for Tinder Box of the Carolinas. We’re having fun with it!įor many years, my “day job” has been at a cigar shop with a well-known name: Tinder Box. I only hope that common sense will reign supreme.Ĭheck out the Yale Brothers Podcast. Judging from the crowd at LuLu’s, I bet the season in Myrtle Beach is going to be a busy one. The fact that we are twins makes for an interesting vocal dynamic, and our harmonies are tight. Performing with Chris is always a good time. In a setting like LuLu’s, it’s all about the experience. It helps to foster a feeling of connection and a sense of goodwill. I also like the idea of playing snippets of other songs that people request. It’s always fun trotting out songs like this – and it certainly helps when folks are surprised and tickled about it. I even did the little organ bit at the beginning before switching to piano. Doesn’t the recipe call for three guitars?Įarly in the evening a couple of people shouted out “Freebird.” I am sure most people are joking when they shout that out at live shows because shouting out “Freebird” is a thing – so much so that a new response to the request – two middle fingers up with a “here’s two – no charge” – also became a thing.īut we did a short version of the song, complete with piano and guitar solos – and people loved it. Interesting choice for a duo consisting of a piano and a guitar. Recently at LuLu’s North Myrtle Beach, my brother and I played Skynyrd’s “ Freebird.” ![]()
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