Raul Velazco was born into a family who loves cigars. The family tradition began, in 1937 when his predecessors opened the first cigar factory in Hoyo de Manicaragua, in the Cuban province of Las Villas (central part of Cuba). Hoyo de Manicaragua is a small town known for their cigar manufacturing, right in the mountains of Escambray, a good land for tobacco. The tobacco plantations form the usual and best landscape of this region; long traditions, the happy character of guajiros (farmers), and the excellence of the harvests make this a sacred place for the cigar connoisseurs. Tobacco is more than a harvest, it is a culture, it is “to fall in love for the land.“
In 1999 the family emigrated to the United States. In August 2003, we opened our first store, “Hoyo de Cuba” Cigar Factory in Houston, Texas, to sell our exclusive cigars in different sizes and flavors, which we manufacture by hand in Esteli, Nicaragua, using quality tobacco.
While we are now known as HDC Cigar Factory, we still maintain a strict quality control in the handcrafting of our exquisite cigars.
Visit our store, open Monday to Saturday (11:00 am – 6:00 pm, closed on Sundays), and enjoy the best cigar in town, at the best price and a cup of Cuban coffee. While here, don’t miss the opportunity to visit our walk-in humidor where you will find a selection of more than 25,000 cigars in over 20 different types.
In Loving Memory of Don Raúl Velazco Ibarra
1958 – 2026
It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Raul Velazco Ibarra—a beloved father, loyal friend, and pillar of the greater Houston community and beyond. Writing this is emotionally devastating, and we ask for your grace and understanding as we honor a man who meant so much to so many.
Raul was known far and wide for his masterfully blended cigar brand, Mafia Time, and his landmark shop, Hoyo De Cuba (“The Jewels of Cuba”). But to those who truly knew him, the real jewel was not the cigar—it was Raul’s uplifting soul. A proud Cuban, Raul carried his heritage in every laugh, every handshake, and every smoke shared in conversation. For him, the cigar was never just a cigar; it was a means to connect, to build community, and to create moments of genuine friendship.
Born Hoyo de Manicaragua, Cuba, Raul came to the United States in 1999 in pursuit of the American dream. He brought with him joy, love, and an irrepressible Cuban spirit. Before his journey into cigars, he was a sound engineer in Havana—a man who knew how to lift everyone’s spirit. He was also a gifted chef, eventually opening his own restaurant. His uncle had opened the first cigar shop in Houston, and Raul followed that path, pouring his heart into Hoyo De Cuba and educating countless people on the true understanding of cigars.
More than anything, Raul was a true friend and a kind soul. He helped so many people—quietly, compassionately, and without ever wanting recognition. He did good in the shadows, asking nothing in return. His smile was a gift, his friendship a refuge.
Raul leaves behind his adoring daughters, Gladys and Daddyrak; his caring wife, Carmen, a loving mother-in-law who held him as a son; and a rest of family. His loss leaves an un-fillable void, but his spirit—his warmth, his laughter, his Cuban heart—will live on in every shared story and every gentle curl of cigar smoke.
We know that so many of you knew Raul. Please hold his family in your thoughts during this difficult time.
Services and arrangements will be shared shortly. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you light a cigar, share a story, and be kind to someone quietly—just as Raul would have done.