FINE: Where were you born, where did you grow up?What was it like there and what were some of you mostmemorable experiences?
Rocky: I was born in Bombay, India and spent the first 14 years of my life there. My grandfather was Secretary of Agriculture for India so I was able to travel all over the country as a child, including the agricultural and poor areas. I was able to see remote villages, remote places, mountains, forests, and the backcountry, all at a very young age. I was able to see the “Real” India.
FINE: Where else have you lived or visited in the world?
Rocky: In the summer we would go to Africa. I lived in Kenya and Nairobi, and my brother was born there. My family was in the coffee and sisal business there, so we traveled all over Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. I had a great childhood because I was able to experience two really remote regions of the world. Those areas were very 3rd world, “backwards” countries, with a lot of poverty. You learn a lot about the true souls of human beings when you live in extreme poverty.
FINE: How did you arrive in the United States?
Rocky: My family moved to Green Bay, WI, which was like “Leave it to Beaver.” Really, it was just like that show. The only people we knew there were my Aunt and Uncle. It was truly the heartland of America! The people were loving, kind, and simple, with big hearts… it was an amazing thing! We loved Wisconsin and we never wanted to leave. I grew up water skiing, fishing, and snow skiing, etc. It was a wonderful place to be a kid!
FINE: Where did you go to school?
Rocky: I went to undergraduate and graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. I then moved to Los Angeles to attend Law School and get some sunshine and warm weather. LA was an interesting place with a lot of culture
and diversity! However, at the end of the day, it was just not for me. It was a great experience and I was able to meet some fantastic people.
FINE: In your professional life, did you start in the cigar business or in another field? How did you first get into the cigar business?
Rocky: I had a successful Law Practice in Los Angeles. I was very much involved in the movie industry and I was on movie sets often. We were always waiting for actors, lighting, make-up, etc., sitting around for 2 to 3 hours at a time. So, during that time, people like Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, actors who I was around, would smoke cigars during those breaks. So, I decided to start smoking cigars, too. I had a friend in Honduras who made cigars and would send me cigars for fun. Pretty soon, I had all the Hollywood actors smoking these cigars at a private club called “The Grand Havana Room.” I said to myself, “Hey, I might be on to something!” I then came up with some hip, clever packaging, thought outside the box, and created a brand called “Indian Tobac.” People started smoking the cigars and it became kind of a cult Hollywood following.
FINE: How did you take that idea and build your business to what it is today?
Rocky: Well, I didn’t know a lot about cigars. So, I went to Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. I spent 7 years in my free time, working in the farms, in the curing and fermentation areas, making hundreds and hundreds of blends to educate my palette. I took the time to learn the taste profiles from all the tobaccos from around the world. I asked a lot of dumb questions to learn from all the experienced workers who had moved there. I became very passionate about this! Now, I have manufacturing facilities in Honduras and Nicaragua with about 2300 employees in those locations. Our main business is manufacturing Rocky Patel Premium Cigars that we distribute all over the world. Nobody really knew me in this town until I opened up Burn! The reason I opened up Burn was to have a place to go out at night! I wanted to go somewhere sophisticated, nice, with good music, no hip hop or rap – just something fun where I could hang out and relax with good friends.
FINE: What sets your Rocky Patel Premium Cigars apart from other cigars sold all over the world?
Rocky: The beauty of our cigars is that they are all hand made! The time, energy and detail put into each cigar are unmatched. We also have the strictest quality control standards in the world. We have tobaccos that are 10 and
12 years old. We spend a lot of time on the aging, curing and fermentation of our tobaccos. This makes our cigars some of the most sought after in the world. My cigars have superb quality, consistency and flavor profiles.
FINE: How did you finally arrive in Naples?
Rocky: I moved to Naples in 1999 because of my close family friends and neighbors in Green Bay, Brian and K.C. Stock of Stock development. They are partners in my cigar business and they convinced me to come down here.
They took me down to Fifth Avenue and I thought it was so beautiful – it reminded me a lot of Europe. I also really liked the weather.
FINE: Why do you think Naples is a special place to live?
Rocky: Obviously, Naples is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever seen. Just the landscaping alone, it’s all perfectly manicured. I love the fact that there is no crime and that there is not a lot of traffic here. I love the simplicity, the
tranquility and the peacefulness of Naples. I really enjoy boating, fishing, tennis and golf. Naples is my little slice of heaven!
FINE: What are some of your favorite restaurants here in Naples?
Rocky: One of my favorite places to go is Côte d’Azur. It’s a little French Country restaurant that I think is actually the very best restaurant in Naples. It is unassuming, but when you walk in you feel like you are right in the French
Countryside. The place is dynamic; the food is incredible and very consistent. One of my other favorite places is Sea Salt. It has great food and a great atmosphere.
Burn by Rocky Patel
www.rockypatel.com
9110 Strada Place, Suite 6160
Naples, FL 34108