Advice for B&M owners anyone?

Bad Finger:

In PA, the legislators have passed laws that are popular with the masses, so smoking in businesses that can be accessed by the general public is out. Both existing businesses and new businesses that want the “privilege” of allowing smoking have to pay the state for that privilege. Local government wants in on the take too, so Cigar shop owners have to pay more. People that were already in business have no choice than to pay the license fees or close. When you have debt that can only be paid by staying in business, you have to pay the license fees and try to survive. The owner’s costs have gone up since the anti-smoking laws have passed, so they have to charge more.

Maybe Walmart can afford to sell loss leaders, but cigar stores have a limited number of products to sell and they all have to do with smoking.

Bar owners have been impacted the same way. When smoking was banned in restaurants and bars, many of their customers started going to private clubs which by law can allow smoking (because it’s a private club that charges for membership. It is not open to the general public). Its easy for you to say they should move, but these owners have a mortgage and a debt service they have to pay, they have children in the local school system, and maybe one spouse has a career/job at another local company. People that have worked for a number of years at a career and have built up a retirement account are not going to pick up and move because the smoking laws have changed, they can’t.

I think your attitude is a bit flippant.


Mike T.