Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Well inmates I'm opening a cigar lounge soon, I know some of you just rolled your eyes. No this is not an idea, a concept, a plan or pipe dream. I have a location and funding, I should be selling my first cigars before the fall season is over. I'm in that first 100 days and would like to ask questions and have your opinions in this thread. So to begin...

Cigarette smoking, I'm leaning toward signage and such saying "Please Refrain from Cigarette Smoking". Thoughts? What is the policy at your favorite lounge?

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

I am not sure I have see any "no cigarette smoking" signs in any on the B&M lounges in my area, John, but I can't remember seeing anyone smoking cigarettes there either.

Will you be allowed to sell alcohol in your lounge? You may be forfeiting some sales with an anti-cigarette policy if that's the case. If it is strictly a cigar lounge with soft drinks and coffee, then I wouldn't think it could hurt you at all.

P.S....Great success with the venture!

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

I think it's best to keep the "don'ts" to a bare minimum.
To disallow cigarette smoking is borderline senseless when there are umpteen cigars burning, at least in my way of thinking.
I know I certainly wouldn't be offended by anyone smoking a cigarette where smoking is allowed. I'd be happy for the guy. A brother can't smoke a cigarette anywhere nowadays.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Yes a full alcohol beverage bar once the OK ABLE commission grants my permit, they are notoriously slow.

Thanks for the reply and wishing me well, I won't be selling online but at some point do I need to convert to a Retail Membership?

Scott, thanks for the input. I figured most cigar smokers didn't like being around cigarette smoke, I know I don't. I may be overestimating that whole thing. Thanks for the reply.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

If you are selling alcohol, I agree with Scott, the less "don't"s, the better.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

I'd have a "philosophical" problem with banning cigarette smokers. I no longer indulge, but I know many cigar smokers who smoke both. Plus, I herfed with Lew Rothman at JRs Whippany on several occasions, and he himself, one of the most powerful men in the cigar business, would normally smoke cigs.

You should feel free to do as you choose, but choosing to restrict the freedom of others in your choice seems odd to me. Just sayin'. :2

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Good luck on your endeavor. Do other bars in your area allow smoking? If so, then you pribably won't have to worry about cigarette smokers crowding out your target customers. You could require a cigar purchase or charge a table minimum if casual cigarette smokers become an issue. :2

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

The cigar lounges in my area do not allow cigarette smoking.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

This^^

I'm no expert, but from a customer standpoint, most don't want to walk in to a new place and be hit with a bunch of "don't" and "no". I wouldn't worry about it at first. If down the line it becomes a problem, you can always implement the "no cigarettes" later, but I doubt it will be necessary.

Best of luck!

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Put the no cigarette smoking sign in the ladies room, if anyone complains you can direct them to the cigarette free zone :r

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

LOL...Thank you all for chiming in I appreciate the :2 very much!
:tu

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

There are cig smokers in my lounge all the time. I have no issues with it. I can't think of a time where I ever smelled it.

I think the more foot traffic, the better. Especially if serving alcohol, as others pointed out.

Good luck!

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

First of all, I commend you brother for opening a lounge and doing something you love. Best of luck!

Second, the alcohol might draw some cig smokers, but if your establishment is primarily known for cigars, I wouldn't worry too much. Like others have said, you probably dont want to exclude groups of folks, but you can always curtail it after the fact if the cigarettes get out of hand. It's ironic, but I typically get dirty looks from cig smokers when I'm lighting a cigar, so you'll want to make sure you cater to the cigar smokers. Just my observation.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Down here at the B&M I frequent in OKC they do allow cigarette smoking. They dont sell you Marlboros and Winstons but they sell natural cigarettes and loose leaf tobacco to roll your own. Most folks who hangout though dont have issues if some lights up.

Let me know when things are up and running too. Long overdue for that OK herf. What better place than ur place!!

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Here in Nebraska there is no public smoking allowed anywhere .....but a few B&M and cigar lounges have an exception ,the law dose not allow cigarettes just cigars .

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

The lounges I have been to in TN don't have any restrictions on cigarette smoking and I personally have never smelled them when people have lit up. Like others have said, I would try to encourage as much foot traffic as possible. I wish you the best of luck and post up some pictures as you go!

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

The lounges in Oregon only allow cigars -- cigarettes and pipes (and vaping) are specifically not allowed as they are considered "chemically treated" tobaccos.

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You're are crazy if you have a sign turning away any business. Making a profit on a cigar lounge is hard enough and turn away anyone is crazy. Most cigar lounges have so much ventilation that it could toxic fumes and you can barely smell it.

You should be thinking more on the lines of "how can I get everyone around smokers or not into my lounge?" Think of ways to broaden the appeal beyond than a place to smoke cigars.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Congrats on your new venture! I wish you all the best and success!

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

I would maybe let the staff tell the customers it's 'allowed' but frowned apon, and leave it at that- cigars are one of the last refuges from this don't do this dont do that world we live in, I would hate to see any signage of that sort at the local tobacconist, despite not liking the smell myself.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Thanks everyone for chiming in, this has been helpful.
Steve what B&M do you frequent? I get down that OKC way quite often.

Moses, the plan to broaden appeal which will work in my city, is the jazz aspect of the lounge. The BOTL and walk-in humidor will always be the number one focus but the place will also be the town's only dedicated jazz venue. Which is why the ventilation system is something I spend a lot time considering.

So next topic, what ventilation systems work or don't work at the B&M lounge you frequent?

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

I saw good luck, and while I'm not a fan of cig. smoke, I think you will have a hard time with it. I say let it go and take the business.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

I was just getting on to make a ventilation post and saw you asked about it. My biggest gripe with my local B&Ms is that they don't have nearly enough ventilation. It's sufficient if there are just a couple guys in there smoking, but evenings and weekends, forget it. To be honest I avoid the local B&Ms when I want to relax and enjoy a smoke or catch a game. When it looks like Snoop Dogg's car inside and your eyes start to itch and burn, the appeal is gone. I'm far from afraid of a smoky environment but it seems like some of these places don't even try. That's probably my #1 concern when it comes to a lounge. #2 would be TVs and comfy chairs laid out in a way that it is easy to watch the TV if you so desire.

:2

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

IN any bar/lounge ,B&M make sure the volume on music and tv is not loud so you can have a conversation and that goes for sports ... especially sports .

I always leave the min the volume is jacked up . I could care less about cigs.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Allow people to smoke cigarettes. The employee of the smoke shop by me smokes cigarettes at the register and never bothered anyone. Now acid cigars pissed everyone off in the lounge!

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Way cool! Congrats!!! I also don't believe in turning away business. Serve salty pretzels and peanuts at the bar, too. A self-serve popcorn machine in the corner also makes for thirsty customers. Good ventilation is a MUST.

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That's just plain smart. Especially if they sell all the gear, too.

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Oh and all that E cig and vapor stuff sells real well also! Should probably look into all that as well!

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I was planning on welcoming the E-Cig/Vapor folks.

Jamie, thanks for some of the salty snack suggestions. I didn't think about the pop-corn machine. :tu

More opinions on ventilation from your experience please.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Tobacco Exchange off 63rd and May. Ill PM you some contact info for me.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

They do!! -(P :banger

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

I'm going to get slightly off-topic for a moment. I have entered a business grant competition. A full service cigar lounge requires a significant investment to get started. Winning this grant competition will be a big help.

So if you have a Facebook account please consider voting daily through Oct 17th. Click the link below. You'll also get a better idea of what Denise and I are opening later this fall.
http://www.dreambigoklahoma.com/entr....aspx?entry=91

Thanks in advance! :tu

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Good luck with your new venture! :tu

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Can you still smoke cigars in the bar at Mickey Mantle's? A lot of restaurants allow smoking inside. I use to go to some British pub chain, I forget its name...

There's enough tourists coming to OKC to make it "go to" place when visiting the city. For that, location is critical. People from out of town don't want to drive far and wide to go from dinner to cigar lounge.

I spent almost a year working OKC, Monday-Friday, flying home on the weekend. I have pretty good outsider view of the city and culture there.

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-(Pthe stinch of cigarette smoke cant out do the beautiful smell of a cigar

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What do you mean by "dedicated jazz venue"?

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Just a quick little story about cigs at a cigar bar. At a nice cigar bar I rarely go to as it is not in my normal travel route, I did stop in to pick up a few stickes one afternoon. At the bar were two very nice looking women enjoying a glass of wine and each with a cigarette. Now I don't go to a cigar shop to pick up women, but the eye candy wasn't bad while enjoying a short corona. Haven't seen this at other lounges since, my vote is to allow cigs.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

John, first, my most sincere congratulations. You are actually living my dream. I am genuinely happy for you, if not a little jealous. :tu

I don't know squat about ventilation, sorry. As for cigarettes, I don't care for the smell of them myself, but I'll echo what others have said and say allow them. The way I see it, if you sell them, you have to let your customers smoke them. If cigars are your clear focus, hopefully cigarette smokers will be few.

It's a tricky thing though and the line is yours to draw. My wife is a cigarette smoker. It's hard for me to imagine that she'd have to leave a lounge to have a cigarette outside while I'm puffing away on my cigar inside. But I guess that's the way it is in some places.

As a customer in my fantasy dream shop, there'd be no cigarettes, vape pens, e-cigs, hookahs, or artificially flavored cigars. But you're opening a shop in the real world. You're a cigar man, but you're a business man. I suppose much depends on your clientele. It would be great if only cigar smokers--and lots of 'em--walked through your door. But, who'll be walking in? Jazz people. I'd bet that there are a lot of cigarette smokers among the jazz crowd.

Let us know how you decide to handle it.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

I enjoy both Cigars and cigarettes. I wouldn't exclude cigarette smokers. I don't see why a Cigar smoker would be offended by cigarette smoke. The Cigar is so much stronger of a smell, which is why cigarette smokers at times get offended she someone lights a cigar as others have pointed out but if your walking into a Cigar lounge you would be a cool to be offended by cigar smoke!

Congrats on following up on you dream and making it a reality.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Nothing will make your business more successful than having it frequented by attractive women. Nothing!

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Preach It!

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Blugill, Mr. Grimes and I had some time to sit and burn a couple in the new space and ponder what will be. It is going to be great!

Thank you all for your thoughts and opinions on the subject.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

I realize a walk-in humidor is not just about size but I'd like to ask the assemblage here. How many boxes of cigars does a respectable walk-in humidor need to hold in your opinion?

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Guessing about 400+

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Opinions please. So the humidor I can afford from the numbers in my budget holds about 135 boxes of cigars. Is that enough to start with in a community of 50,000?

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

I would say it's all about quality over quantity.:2

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

That is what I'd hope that a selection of quality sticks would over come humidor size. I can always expand my selection later. I can't open if I constantly blow my budget.

Hoping to sell my first cigar before January is over.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

Very cool!

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Also, you can keep just a small stock on the shelves in the humidor, and get a few coolers to keep your stock.

I've noticed a lot of places that keep all of their stock out in the walk in, and I really only need to see one box of what I'm looking for and if I want a whole box I can ask.

Re: Opening a Cigar Lounge
 

+1. Congrats on opening soon. Can we see some pics inside?!