Is Havana Mix Cigar Still Open? Bar Rescue Update (Memphis, TN)

Havana Mix Cigar began as a cigar shop that Robb Hunter opened in Memphis in 2012, adding liquor service in 2014 after customers asked for a full bar. By the time Bar Rescue's "Close, But No Cigar" episode aired in March 2018, Robb's son, Rhobb Jr., had left a graduate program to help run the business but focused on cigar sales rather than the bar, leaving the drink and food side neglected. During a hidden-camera visit, bartenders could not make a Manhattan or find ingredients for basic cocktails, and food orders had to be cooked by the bartender on the spot.

Father and son struggled to communicate about how the business should be run, a tension the episode traced back to Rhobb Jr.'s reluctance to take the bar seriously. Cigar expert Jacob Fourth and chef Anthony Lamas trained the staff on classic cocktails such as a mojito and whiskey sour and helped build out Cuban-inspired food, including bite-sized dishes using lime-based sauces. As part of the renovation, the business was renamed Robusto by Havana Mix, refitted with leather furniture and warm lighting, and given new ice machines and point-of-sale systems, along with a lifetime staff subscription to cocktail training.

The rebrand also leaned on the venue's custom cedar humidor and regular live music, positioning it as a lounge experience built around cigars first and drinks second, rather than a typical neighborhood sports bar. The rescue proved durable. At the standard six-week follow-up, sales were reported up about 25 percent, and Rhobb Jr. moved into a manager role with more day-to-day control. As of a July 2026 Yelp update, Robusto by Havana Mix lists current operating hours at 250 Peabody Place and continues to hold a 4.5-star rating, one of the higher marks among bars featured on the show.

The business's own website confirms it is still branded as Robusto by Havana Mix, an upscale cigar lounge, wine bar, and Cuban-food destination with a custom cedar humidor, and it continues to host live music. Robb Hunter has since expanded into related ventures, including Burning Desire Cigars in Lakeland, Tennessee, and Cigar Haven in Southaven, Mississippi, and Rhobb Jr. remains listed as the operation's head of day-to-day management.