• Hi Guest - Come check out all of the new CP Merch Shop! Now you can support CigarPass buy purchasing hats, apparel, and more...
    Click here to visit! here...

Private Smoking Clubs

Swissy

Swissy

Livin' the retired life!
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
4,612
Location
North to Alaska!
OK... this has been asked before, but instead of topping an old thread I thought I'd start a new one for my specific request. That, and with the bans increasing perhaps things have changed.

Anyways, I got an invite to a informational meeting, and a charter member offer, for a new upcoming private smoking club in town. No idea on ANY details, yet, but I know they have been talking about a separate place from their shop - well lit, ventilated, TV screens, wireless internet, comfy chairs, etc etc. Someplace to go and relax and enjoy life before going home to the hustle and bustle of normal life. I am going to the meeting this Thursday, but before I do I kind of wanted to get an idea of what others are using. From previous talks with the shop, (which used to allow smoking but was shut down by the city other than their after hours movie/cigar night) they have mentioned prices in the $500 a year and up to $750. There is another shop I visit more often, as they do have a smoking area that is just $35 a year. But it's darker, quite a bit out of my way, pretty smokey when in use, and not very big - plus the city has been fighting them in court saying it's not a legal club for the ban, although it looks as though they may have won their fight. They have a couple of computers, but no TV or other 'recreation'. But.. it's a nice quaint little shop that I have been using for many years so I also have the loyalty issue as well. Not to mention $500+ a year is REALLY hard to swallow right now, with economy influences on our situation, less overtime possibilities, wife's health and reduced work hours, and for the simple fact I have a place for $35 a year! Maybe if they offer a reduced cost for charter members or the first year...

What kind of shop do you visit, if you do? Well lit? Smokey or good ventilation? Cost? Amenities? How far from you? Are you HAPPY paying more rather than less money for less 'comfort'? Would you pay far less for a smaller, darker, smokier experience? What other options/prices do you have reasonable access to? Shop owners, I'd like to hear from you as well... are there 'options' with different costs? what do you offer? yada yada yada...


At this point unless I sell off some stuff (cigars, hobby collection items, etc) I doubt I can or will do it... but... you never know. and after visiting the Outlaw gang, nothing will ever be good enough :thumbs:

thanks... this should be interesting!
 
First, I certainly agree, everything pales in comparison to the Outlaw. That said, I think it'd be worth it taking a look at what all it entails, if you get something back besides a place to smoke for that membership fee then maybe it would be worth it?
 
I'm a member of an extremely exclusive smoking club. We meet several times weekly in a private lounge and, while there is no initiation fee or annual dues, the selection process is quite rigorous--in fact, I'm the only member. We are, however, currently accepting applications.












Actually, it's just me smoking in my dimly-lit, poorly ventilated garage.
 
There is no substitute for The Outlaw. As the state I am living in has passed a No smoking ban period, you won't be able to smoke in any building whatsoever and that means Tobacco shops. It will be interesting to watch the taxes dry up in this state as smokers will not have a place to smoke at. Except in their yard and if people have their way, even that will be illegal.

I know there is other cigar smokers here in town, but I have no idea who they are nor what they plan on once the Law kicks in this year. I can not see a Club making it since people are cheap here. I will do what I normally do...Grab my comforter during the winter time and smoke outside. During the Spring, Summer, and Fall isn't a issue.
 
I was a member of my local shop until he raised the price from $500 to $700 a year. For $700 you got a locker that held about 10 boxes of cigars, free espresso, a TV that worked sometimes, free wifi, free water cooler, and a 5 chair lounge. It was frequently crowded and since it only had 5 chairs it was no longer worth going to.

The ventilation they have is inadequate and the lounge was too small. But early in the day you were usually guaranteed a seat. But it was way overpriced at $700 a year.

Now in San Francisco there is Shanghai 1930. And IF youre lucky enough to be able to get a locker in this place, which is inside a great chinese 4 star restaurant right on the water in SF, complete with valet parking, private memebrs entrance to the lounge that requires a magnetic key card to enter, private waitstaff, and a pimpin atmosphere, youd have to shell out $3000 to join and I think $1200 quarterly throughout the year, but damn it worth it! I wish I was a member there, but I cant afford it.

Good luck on a new lounge Jim!
 
I'm not a member of Heroes and Legacies because I don't live in Austin, but if I did I would be. Heroes and Legacies features on of the nicest lounges I've seen, for 800/year. Plenty of seating, wifi, tv, the standard stuff, lockers, and a bar. With all this you also get free food on game days, free drinks when ever you want, and a free meal for the members dinner at a high end steak house once a year. Personally I think this is a great deal.
 
I think it depends on your city of course. In San Diego, there's not that much out there. I think if I could find a place that I could wander down to whenever I wanted, and served espresso and cuba libre's while I watched a little sports and read my paper.... well, 1,200/year would seem cheap to me.

Most attempts at that stuff seem to suck though, like one poster above said about 5 chairs & 700/year. Blech.

Here's a place in Singapore, if it was here I'd pay 3K/year without blinking. Even though I think it's just a store.

http://www.oldecuban.com/index.html
 
I'm a member of the Havana Club in Baltimore. It's the only non-B&M place to smoke in Baltimore since the smoking ban took effect. It has a Latin theme, pool tables, well-lit, very comfy chairs, TVs and it's above a Ruth's Chris which is owned by the same person as the club (which means you can order and eat Ruth's Chris steak while smoking your favorite cigar).

It generally turns into a nightclub on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. I have a locker there and my cost is $500 per year. Granted this was the price prior to the smoking ban, and the scuttlebutt is that prices are going up. If I'm not grandfathered in, I'm going to let this membership go. While the environment is extremely nice, it's only open from 6pm - 2am Wednesday through Saturday. I typically smoke on weekends during the day, so the club is of only marginal use for me.

I'm considering becoming a member of my local B&M. The B&M is a two floor house. The B&M is on the first floor and the second floor has been renovated and, through the assistance of $ from Ashton, has four rooms: 1) a main sitting area at the top of the steps, 2) the Ashton Room - with 4 person poker table, refrigerator, Keurig coffee machine 3) a reading/quiet room and 4) the San Cristobal Room - where the over sized lockers are located with big, comfy leather couches and chairs. Each room, with the exception of the quiet room, has a plasma TV with HD.

They charge $1,000 for the year, but provide each member with a $500 credit at the store. My only problem is they don't allow Cubans in the lockers. I understand why this is their rule, but that's a bit of a deal-breaker for me. I have several friends who are members, so I'll continue to head upstairs when I smoke with them until the cigar rule changes.

Best,

Rob
 
You know, what I would actually do is find a place at home to smoke. We know you're in Alaska, I am assuming you can't smoke in your house. If you take 5-7 years worth of membership, and build/buy an outdoor shed to smoke in, you could probably furnish it and wire it for a reasonable cost.

Example Link from Home Depot

Throw some furniture in there, tv, computer, a heating source, and run wiring to it from the house, and you're golden.

Firefighting is serious work, you shouldn't have to bullshit around town or freeze your ass off to smoke.

My Seattle-ite opinion.
 
BobbyRitz said:
I'm considering becoming a member of my local B&M. The B&M is a two floor house. The B&M is on the first floor and the second floor has been renovated and, through the assistance of $ from Ashton, has four rooms: 1) a main sitting area at the top of the steps, 2) the Ashton Room - with 4 person poker table, refrigerator, Keurig coffee machine 3) a reading/quiet room and 4) the San Cristobal Room - where the over sized lockers are located with big, comfy leather couches and chairs. Each room, with the exception of the quiet room, has a plasma TV with HD.
Click to expand...


I didn't realize the Ashton Club was that large, since I have no friends and have to sit in the downstairs lounge with the rest of the riff-raff. :laugh: I do really like that B&M, but its a little far away after commuting from DC back to Baltimore.

I end up hanging out at a B&M in Ellicott City. Not a private club per se, but we have a regular group that tends to take over.
 
Jim, regardless of the costs involved, it seems another key issue here is where you are at within your family unit. Don't get me wrong, costs involved to join are very important, but how much free time you have and at what times during the week are important as well. I think this may play an equal role in your decision along with the membership money.

I don't know about the rest of the CP members, but when I was younger, I smoked larger cigars and smoked more often....because I had the time to do so. Back then there were tons of places to smoke, so when the desire arose, I stopped and smoked. I didn't have kids until later in life (33), so when that presented itself, my smoking habits changed. After all my kids were born, my cigars smoking slowly evolved to smaller cigars with less time to smoke. When I was normally at a men's club or B&M puffing away with my buddies, I was coaching soccer, basketball, football, and baseball and doing all the administrative work associated with those sports. Add in my daughter dance competitions, sleep overs....you get the picture. When I would occasionally sneak away for an hour or two to hang with my boys to smoke a cigar, I was helping with homework, co-building school projects and working on the 'honey do' list.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, for any of us, is this new place going to be CLOSE to your house where you can head down there at the spur of the moment, when that time may unexpectedly present itself, grab a robusto and enjoy a smoke without catching any grief?...lol. If you work shift work, is it going to be available when you have the opportunities to smoke? Because, if all these stars line up...$500 to $750 a year may all of a sudden seem like very little money for the proper environment....as long as it has adequate seating, tables to eat on, HDTV, great ventilation, et al :laugh: that's a given.

For all of us married guys and fathers, if our kids are older and the wife wants us out of her hair periodically....we're golden. You younger guys without these situations are living the Charmed Cigar Life!

Like they say in real estate...location, location, location.

After that it's....money, money, money.

Good Luck with your decision Jim. If you do it, I can't wait for the pictures :thumbs:
 
I joined a place when I moved to Houston. With the inability to smoke in public places on the rise, it is definitely money well spent. The benefits of joining a club/lounge extend far beyond cigars proper. I have met some great people, and many opportunities both socially and professionally have developed as a direct result of joining a club.

Billy
 
I have a club near my house about 15 minutes away. I finally joined and am happy I did. The price is 200.00 a year but you can smoke there free if you buy cigars there. I get a humidor box, they have a big screen tv, wireless and will make me a pot of coffee when I come in. (many members keep bottles in their boxes) A few members have slippers there for the winter. They play domino's and had poker nights there for a while. www.havanahouseny.com

I am lucky I also have Hudsonvalleycigars as well as uptowncigars all within an hour of the house.





Beth
 
I am a member of the Louisville Cigar Society. A private non-profit club. It is a nice place to go to watch a game or go just to have a smoke.

We have about 30 members and the dues are 400 a year. Not hard on the wallet at all. We have a pool table, a ten seat poker table, lockers, computer, internet, kitchen, and a bar. We hold tasting every Wed night, whether it be some sort of liquor or cigars. We try to supplement the costs, with raffles, and pool tournaments. Where half the entry fees, go to the club and half go to the winner. The raffles are madatory sometimes with a 20 buck entry fee and a chance to win cigars that we donate. Works out well.

It is not ventilated, but our regular handyman built an air cleaner, which does an adequate job, but you still smell like smoke. Thing is personalities will clash sometimes. Sometimes you a get a few loud mouths (yes worse than me) in there arguing over something and they dominate the whole club, gets annoying. Some hog the poker table and only play a certain game all night. You get the drift. Our resident lawyer drew up the by laws and we set the rules for the club.

It is a nice way to socialize. They have outings all the time. We put on public bourbon and cigar tastings about twice a year.

We have club meetings about every 3-4 months to vote on new things. I would reccomend some kind of website to post goings on. We just do it by email which suffices. Our resident chef always has something cooked up on the weekends and a few times a year he will prepare a meal that we can bring our wives too. Generally no women are allowed.

It is 24hr access. We basically rented out a basement under a strip mall and remodled it. We have a few contractors in the club who did all the work. The first year was really unorganized, but this year we have really stepped it up, with new leadership.

Overall I am happy with the choice to join. It is tough to go down there, once you get a man cave up and running. Hmmm do I walk to the basement for a smoke, or drive 20 mins.

If you have any other questions lemme know.
 
Anything like this would be illegal in Ontario. There used to be a few here until the laws changed. Of course I didn't smoke cigars then. Funny, this came last night up we went to a local hotel restaurant for dinner for V day and in the hotel was an old cigar bar that was closed. I asked our waiter about it and he said what I had already thought. As soon as the laws changed it closed shop. :(
 
I pay $25 a year at my local B&M, and for that I get 10% off on singles, 15% off on boxes, $25 store credit on every $500 spent, and use of the lounge, which includes free sodas, beer, wine, and liquor . . . there's wifi, and a DLP big screen.

Downside is that the lounge, while it has state of the art ventilation, is a bit narrow, ill-furnished, and has been completely taken over by the "Texas Hold 'Em" folks, who are there every single night of the week. I don't play poker, and they're always in the way of the television. And loud. And they glom onto all the chairs. :rolleyes:

Still, I'm good friends with quite a few of the regulars there, and it's a nice spot to hang out, especially in the afternoons. They do some private events---there's a wine and cigar party tomorrow night I'll be attending.

They also know most of the other B&M owners in Texas, so I have reciprocal membership at C.I.G.A.R. in San Antonio, and Heroes & Legacies in Austin, when I visit there.

When they moved to the new location, they were getting some odd clientele who'd heard about the "Friday Fiesta" herfs and basically came to suck down free beers before heading off to the emo goth indie gay bar club. :angry: So they went to $25 a month for awhile, and had plans to offer more amenities . . . but the Texas Hold 'Em guys were still taking up all the space and hogging the chairs . . . :laugh:

It went back to $25 a year after just a few months, but I'd have gladly kept paying $25-35 a month if they'd actually offered the things they originally planned to, like a coffee/espresso bar, reading library, multiple flat screens, better chairs, nicer atmosphere, private events and cigar dinners . . . it would definitely have been worth it to me.

~Boar
 
I have often dreamed of having something like that here in Hawaii. Really only one shop to smoke at. Until that happens, I still have the "man cave."
 
We have a couple local B&Ms here in Omaha that allow smoking and are pretty nice but they don't serve any food or drink. I'm not sure I could swallow spending that much money a year just to be able to smoke at a place.
 
Funny you guys are talking about this. A guy that works for me and I were just talking about something like this earlier this week. At the moment there are two pretty nice places (B&M's) to smoke. Both don't have anything more than tv's and a place to smoke, bring your own drinks (soda's) in. Ventilation in both suck though. You get more than a couple guys in there and it's extremely smoky.
Something to think about. There are several places really close to me that just closed. Not sure how I would set up the $$$ end of it though.
 
TheVitaleMob said:
Firefighting is serious work, you shouldn't have to bullshit around town or freeze your ass off to smoke.
Click to expand...

This is so true Jim, and I feel for you brotherman!! It has got to be stressful on you, busting your ass just to get off your plush leather chair, then to suit up and drive to a call, only to be bombarded with 19-year-old cheerleaders flashing their chest-fruits at you... :0


Geez it's a rough life you fireboys live!! :laugh:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top