Did You Know?

One of Downtown Statesville’s hidden treasures resides in a modest storefront on West Broad Street. Driving or walking by, one can easily miss it. Even if you happen to notice the large sign on the window, you might think it is simply a cigar shop like any other. But Flor De America is so much more. The first manufacturing establishment in NC to hand roll cigars onsite, Flor De America is made up of rollers that have over 20 years of experience in the industry. Carlos Giron and his son Selvin, are carrying on a family legacy of cigar making, which began with Carlos’s mother more than 50 years ago in Honduras. As a single mother with two young sons, Flor Diaz learned the craft of cigar making to provide a good life for her boys. After refining and honing her skills for decades, she became a master blender and torcedor, a highly skilled and specifically trained cigar roller. A move to the United States in 1980 created more opportunity, and finally, in 1990, a small shop would open in the heart of Hialeah, Florida—owned and operated by Doña Flor Diaz. Carlos and Alex carried on their mother’s dream, with Carlos being master blender and certified master roller for the brand in Statesville and Alex overseeing the offices in Honduras. Today, Selvin, Carlos’s son and Flor Diaz’s grandson, runs all operations and distribution of the Flor de America Brand. This young entrepreneur has brought new muscle and a bright future for the Giron family, securing a legacy for the next generation of Giron children. Flor de America Cigars, which is expanding nationally and globally, is making their brand on par with all the greats in the industry. And each of those cigars building that brand and legacy is rolled right here in the little brick building in Downtown Statesville. Did you know?