Red Sox fan and owner of Papa Juan Cigar Room shares his love of the Yankees rivalry

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have one of the greatest rivalries in the history of sports.

News 12 Staff

Apr 8, 2022, 10:48 AM

Updated 916 days ago

Share:

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have one of the greatest rivalries in the history of sports. In the shadows of Yankee Stadium, one business owner is brave enough to support the Red Sox nation.
Francis Junko opened the Papa Juan Cigar Room spot as a place for fans to relieve stress, knowing there's plenty of it when these two teams go at it.
"I love the rivalry up to this day. It'll never end. That's something that will never end," he says.
Just steps from the stadium, Junko relies on the Bronx Bombers for business, but he roots for their rivals.
Junko invited Red Sox Hall of Famer David Ortiz a.k.a. Big Papi in for a smoke to celebrate his 500th home run.
His love for the Sox runs deeper than that. Junko grew up watching Red Sox great Pedro Martinez and his brothers practice in the Dominican Republic.
Junko eventually grew his interest in the cigar business.
"A friend of mine was always saying, 'Let's open up a cigar lounge, let's open a cigar lounge.' Opportunity came up and we did it. And we're here to this day now 10 years and going," he explains.
Junko says he has befriended some Yankees as well.