Paul Garmirian is a former professor of international politics who turned his love of cigars into a best-selling book and a popular business. Born in Lebanon, Garmirian came to Washington 43 years ago and once taught at Southeastern University. After writing a book on cigars, Garmirian began producing his own. He sells them at his shop, McLean Cigars.
How did you arrive in the United States?
I was studying in England, and my father’s best friend was the ambassador to London. When he was transferred to the United States, I came to Washington to study and was an intern under his guidance, training for a diplomatic career at the Lebanese Embassy.
What happened to your diplomatic career?
I got a Ph.D. from Catholic University in international politics in 1974, and I went into teaching. I taught in Lebanon at Beirut University and at Haigazian University. I taught there for one year, then the events brought me right back out. The civil war was basically starting there and my wife was going to have a baby, so we both came back here.
How did you get into the cigar business?
I never really got into selling cigars. I got into writing about cigars. I was teaching and my other career was real estate, but my hobby was cigars. I published a book about cigars, and it became a best-seller. With the success of the book, I was invited to make a cigar, and it went into production in 1990.
Your store reportedly attracts the most famous cigar aficionados.
I have a lot of interesting clientele. I have learned my lesson. I don’t give names because it lessens the privacy of the people coming in. Many are quite illustrious. Some of them are not quite so illustrious.
Does the anti-smoking climate hurt the cigar business?
No. Cigarette smoking is a little different than a good cigar. A good cigar is not made with chemicals.
