What to look for in a cigar shop?

[btowens]

Hey guys!

I am in the planning process of starting a cigar lounge in eastern Virginia and I need some input!

What do you look for in a good cigar shop/lounge?

Also, how important is community to your experience in a cigar shop?

Any and all feedback would be appreciated!

 

[javajunkie]

-location
-availability (hours of operation)
-space (especially good use of available space, less square footage is OK if laid out well)
-ambiance, especially customer/ staff relations (duh)
-selection

in that order. you can get away without having a rock star inventory in a lounge setting IF you are cool about allowing people to smoke cigars they brought in. assuming of course they are buying off you and not mooching, see the cigar shop etiquette thread. $.02

and good luck with that venture!

 

[Alwayslit]

-location
-availability (hours of operation)
-space (especially good use of available space, less square footage is OK if laid out well)
-ambiance, especially customer/ staff relations (duh)
-selection

in that order. you can get away without having a rock star inventory in a lounge setting IF you are cool about allowing people to smoke cigars they brought in. assuming of course they are buying off you and not mooching, see the cigar shop etiquette thread. $.02

and good luck with that venture!

..........:thumbsup:

 

[Goalee1]

Where are you looking at in VA?

JJ has the basics. for me personally, add ease and availability of parking(I actually go to some shops/lounges sometimes just because I know I don't have to spend 20 minutes looking for a parking spot). And I can't emphasize staff. If you have someone working there who has no idea about whats going on in the cigar/pipe world, and/or isn't customer friendly, it won't last.

Are you looking at a more of a lounge than a shop i.e. cigar bar or a shop with lounge. G1

 

[BEN(SWEDEN)]

Imho it is EXTREMLY important to be able to sit comfortably. I also think it is good if you have wifi and I usualy like to smoke my own cigars but I make sure I buy some cigars first from the shop first.

The staff even if they dont have alot of knowledge about cigars they should be intrested.

I also would suggest a private room with lockers that you rent out to your customers so they can store cigars there.

 

[c1ark]

Around Indy my biggest complaint is operation hours. Of the 3 local shops all close M-F around 7 or 8, Sat around 5 or 6 and only one is open on Sunday from 12-4. I work an hour east of all of these so by the time I get home any chance of making it through the week is shot. Just about the only time I find myself making it in is on a Sunday for a couple hours. There's a shop down by Louisville that is open til 11 M-T, 12am F-S and 5pm on Su. Wish I lived alot closer.

 

[mk05]

all of the above plus ventilation. My b&m can seem like a gd coal mine sometime

 

[Fourtotheflush]

comfortable seating.
Enough seating.
Preferably sports on TV
Lots of drinks (preferably alchohol, but water, soda etc also)

Along with what everyone above said, especially the ventilation.

 

[JuYcEmAn]

The essentials:

Customer Service. Helpful, knowledgable and friendly staff.

Humidor. A well organized and full humidor. As mentioned above, the selection doesn't need to be too expansive; make sure you have the top brands and sizes well represented with something new or vintage mixed in. Space for patrons to comfortably peruse the selection without walking into one another.

Space. Room for plenty comfortable seating.

Cleanliness. A tidy and neat smoking lounge with a like humidor to match.

The extras:

Lockers for regular patrons.

A bulk section.

Coffee, and/or BYO.

Large screen TV's.

Events (cigar manufacturer sponsored to jazz music).

Accessories (fair market value).


My favorite B&M's have all of the above, or a combination of most of what I listed. The more comfortable your patron is, the more they will want to spend time in your shop.

 

[StocktonJohn]

One thing I really enjoy is the events. Maybe not as high a priority as the other points made here, but I think it something you ought to try to do on a regular basis even if they are small.

 

[LigaPrivadaFanboy]

What to look for in a B&M? 3 words: Ligas and Fuentes

 

[KcJason1]

What to look for in a B&M? 3 words: Ligas and Fuentes

Adding:
Padron
My Father
BYOB
Lockers
buena Vista
CC's under the counter..
Poker night
Pipe/hookah night
Wine tasting night.. Call it ladies night! Teach em about cigars!
Free wifi.. Gotta have wifi

 

[fuente~fuente]

I pretty much agree with everything above. My two cents would be this...

If possible... Make it nicer than all the others in the area. Give them something the others don't have. Give them a reason to come to YOUR place. If you can give the customer the "Wow Factor", that goes a long way. Whether it be an outstanding selection, a giant humidor, a phenomenal lounge with a beautiful atmosphere, or whatever. I know it always isn't in the budget, but if all possible, set yourself apart from the rest...

 

[USCG Cigar Newb]

Everyones getting it right. For me the biggest things is good lounge for sitting, good atmosphere, knowledgable staff and willing to stay open later at night.

 

[MI Dave]

I agree with all of the above but the the one thing that really makes for a great lounge is the one thing you can't control; the people. I have a shop in the Dallas area that has a true brotherhood feel to it where even the patrons greet every person that walks through the door. It's contagious. Start by hiring knowledgable staff that can add to the atmosphere with good personalities and everything else will fall in place.

 

[SSimp]

I agree with all of the above but the the one thing that really makes for a great lounge is the one thing you can't control; the people. I have a shop in the Dallas area that has a true brotherhood feel to it where even the patrons great every person that walks through the door. It's contagious. Start by hiring knowledgable staff that can add to the atmosphere with good personalities and everything else will fall in place.

T&C in Euless?

 

[bugbear]

Friendly, knowledgeable staff that will provide good customer service. I will spend a little more at a B&M that goes out of it's way to let me know when hard to find sticks or favs come in.

Also I think the seating and ventilation comments are valid.

T

 

[MI Dave]

T&C in Euless?

Cigar Lounge in McKinney

 

[SSimp]

Cigar Lounge in McKinney

Gotcha.

 

[Jonathan Drew]

Interesting Thread:

- Integrity.
- Parking.
- Wifi.
- Deep Inventory.

JD