Cigar Bars

[ET]

I am writing a book about Cigar Bars, starting in the US and Canada.


I would appreciate some help and input since I can't travel everywhere in a reasonable amount of time. Since the laws regarding smoking are in rapid flux right now all across the country there is a need for accurate information for travelers and locals. The Cigar police are closing down many businesses that catered to those who like a nice smoke. Here are the questions if you care to help. I am mailing these out to cigar shops but there are places I will miss. Give me your input on what the place is like...Also my real address is below so don't stalk me!

Here is a rough draft of the letter I am sending out:

Dear ,


I hope you can help me. I am writing a book about Cigar bars across the country. I can’t visit them all, but I would like to include as many as possible. With all the new local, state, and national legislation there are a lot of new restrictions on where you can go to have a quiet, relaxed smoke. I would like to provide a traveler a guide to where to go and what is available to them once they get there.

Here is what I would like from you to be included in the book:

Your location. How do I get there from….
How long you have been in business.
Can you smoke on premise?
What size is your humidor and what brands do you stock.
What other products do you sell? Humidors, lighters, gifts, pipes, liquor, wine, beer, food?
Do you stock any special products no one in the area has?
Is there internet access available? Do you have a website?
What kind of crowd do you attract?
Do you sponsor any events?
Do you sponsor any charities?
Are there lockers available for rent by customers to store their purchases on premise?
Smoking rules? Is it a private club or can anyone stop by?
Is there anything special about your business you would like people to know?
Who are the owners?
What is your phone number? Do you mind if I call for some follow-up questions if something comes up?

I would love to have some pictures of your place if you have the time to take them!

Thanks in Advance,

Ed Tuite
402 Doty Street
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701

Estuite@yahoo.com

 

[ET]

Any comments or suggestions are fully appreciated.

 

[Ethan Bentley]

ET sounds like a very interesting idea. Unfortunately with the UK smoking ban inside all public places, such as establishment would be difficult to have, unfortunately.

Are there any Cigar Bars in or around Madison WI? I may be planning a trip there in the future.

Good luck! Ethan

 

[ET]

Hemmingway Cigar Bar
2960 Cahill Main
Fitchburg, WI 53711

(608) 270-3576‎

Tasting Room
6325 Monona Dr.
Monona, WI 53716
608-223-1641

are 2 I know about down there but there may be some others, which is why I am asking for assistance. Not every cigar bar has a web presence, and there may be some that a gentleman would not prefer to frequent. I get over to Minneapolis and StPaul more often than I get to Madison and Milwaukee, so I have been to neither place.

 

[rkwilker]

Raleigh, North Carolina......Amra's. Very nice cigar bar with lots of wood and good top shelf bourbon. If you are in this neck of the woods I highly recommend. http://amrasraleigh.com/

 

[ET]

RKWilker-Looks like a great place. Is it member's only? I got the impression that you had to be a member from the website, which had some great photos.
Do they serve food also?

Thanks and I will send them a questionnaire soon.

Ed

 

[Barbigirl]

LIT - Snoqualmie, WA

Here is the contact info for my local cigar bar. It is a brand new tribal casino and that is how they get around the Washington smoking laws.

Josh Weltmer
Manager - Lit Cigar Lounge
425-888-7978
jweltmer@snocasino.com

 

[indycop]

http://www.aromascigars.com/


http://www.luxist.com/2007/07/14/fuego-by-sosa-cigars-a-cigar-bar-for-disney/

And my favorite,

http://www.islandgirljax.com/

 

[rmrdaddy]

Philly, Pa :

http://phillycigarbar.com/

 

[rkwilker]

ET...yes it is a "member only" however memberships are free. They do not even check memberships during daytime hours. Only at night. It opens around 4pm. It is owned by three brothers. Good chaps, great place, good smokes, equally good bourbon. On Friday afternoon after work I can often be found in my fedora holding up the end of the bar while enjoying a nice smoke and a favorite beverage. They also own a sports bar, "Tobacco Road", that recently opened around the corner so they now serve some food that is ferried up from there. Again, if you are in the area and enjoy a good cigar I highly recommend this spot.

 

[CigarMan]

The only true "Cigar Bar" left in San Antonio, TX is Chango's

http://www.changosclub.com/

There was Cigar Club also, but they stopped selling cigars and stuck to being a bar, which is better anyway because their cigars weren't in good shape anyway.

http://www.sacigars.com/

Of course for the best cigars and service in town with a lounge to sit and smoke in . . .I recommend Club Humidor with now 5 locations in San Antonio. (Shameless plug)

http://www.clubhumidor.com/ and http://www.humidorsat.com/

 

[ET]

Excellent- I have my chapter divisions written and have started to compile a list of cigar bars/ lounges and a bibliography. There is going to be a list of on-line sites with Cigar discussions as well as a section on cigar/ liqour pairings. I think it should fit in well on any cigar smokers shelf as a quick reference.

 

[rkwilker]

Great ET and good luck with your project. If you need any additional info on Amra's cigar bar send your inquiries to the attention of Alex Amra and tell him that Bob refered you.

 

[RedPop4]

The only true "Cigar Bar" left in San Antonio, TX is Chango's

http://www.changosclub.com/

There was Cigar Club also, but they stopped selling cigars and stuck to being a bar, which is better anyway because their cigars weren't in good shape anyway.

http://www.sacigars.com/

Of course for the best cigars and service in town with a lounge to sit and smoke in . . .I recommend Club Humidor with now 5 locations in San Antonio. (Shameless plug)

http://www.clubhumidor.com/ and http://www.humidorsat.com/

Cigar Weekly has a few members in your area, good guys. They're trying to reestablish a monthly smoker, called a herf, in SA, again. I'm pretty sure they've been to CH sites, but I think they're shooting for Chango's as their primary venue.

 

[CigarMan]

Being that that is the only place really considered a cigar bar, it would probably be the best bet. Plenty of room there too.

 

[swinggal]

Nat Sherman on 5th Ave in NY has a smoking room called The Johnson Room. You can sample their cigarettes or buy a cigar and have a puff in there.
http://www.natsherman.com/

 

[Martinis at 8]

I visit this one in Houston regularly Downing Street Pub. It is quite nice.

Mike

 

[Kermez]

I visit this one in Houston regularly Downing Street Pub. It is quite nice.

Mike

I haven't been there in a decade, but we passed it on the way to lunch at CPK a couple weeks ago. Are they still retardedly overpriced?

 

[Martinis at 8]

I haven't been there in a decade, but we passed it on the way to lunch at CPK a couple weeks ago. Are they still retardedly overpriced?

Yes! Don't buy your cigars there! With the new tax, all cigars are now overpriced. Best night to visit is on Tuesdays. Fri/Sat brings in a different type of crowd not to my liking.

 

[Miss 1929]

San Francisco has one...

The Cigar Bar
http://www.cigarbarandgrill.com/

And here's the regional page with all the other cigar-friendly locations...

http://www.cigargroup.com/regional/ca/sfbay/sf-smoke.html