Cigar Lounges Flourish; Pipe Shops Disappear

[rmbittner]

While I very rarely smoke cigars, I do enjoy them. And I’m aware of the cigar boom that hit in the late 1980s and 1990s, which may still be having an effect on the marketplace. I also realize that cigars can “mean” something different than pipes—status, luxury, success, power—and that the typical smokers of each can be quite different.

Still, having said all that, I can’t help wondering why so many larger cities have cigar lounges, even multiples. Many vape shops even have small cigar humidors. Yet shops that focus on pipes and pipe tobaccos seem to be far rarer. And often the shops that do carry both cigars and pipes don’t represent them equally.

I’d love to hear opinions on why that may be.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Because a cigar lounge charges $20-$30 for a single stick, and another $20 for a drink.

 

[jpberg]

Pipes are wicked nerdy. Poseurs will generally pick up a cigar (it’s easy) and run with that.
Takes a wee bit more work to be a pipe poseur.

 

[georged]

Cigars have always been how People of Means & Importance consumed tobacco, while pipes were how Poor People did it.

That public perception still exists to a significant extent.

 

[rmbittner]

Because a cigar lounge charges $20-$30 for a single stick, and another $20 for a drink.

I was going to say, So why don’t pipe shops do that?

Then I immediately remembered how much we complain if the price of a tin goes up by a $1.

 

[jpberg]

Cigar smokers luvluvluv to be seen smoking a cigar. Not many places left to do that.
So corral them into one joint, and each will try to buy a more expensive cigar than the next…..
Just wouldn’t work with pipe smokers.

 

[FurCoat]

As long as you're buying those high dollar drinks, most cigar lounges don't mind if you're smoking a pipe.

 

[rmbittner]

Cigar smokers luvluvluv to be seen smoking a cigar. Not many places left to do that.
So corral them into one joint, and each will try to buy a more expensive cigar than the next…..
Just wouldn’t work with pipe smokers.

I’ve been to one or two, and they are the least inviting places I’ve ever smoked. Give me a pipe shop where you can actually have conversations with people and relax. And no one’s checking out the side of your pipe to make sure you’re smoking the “right” one. (But I’m opposed to the whole affectation of smoking cigars with the bands on, so you can advertise your smoke. I was trained to always remove the band because it can restrict the smoke.)

 

[bullet08]

Cigar smokers are extroverts with exhibitionist twist. Not to generalize them or anything. That's why there's band on cigars with easily recognizable graphics. Stock brokers, politicians, mob bosses.. All seems to fit that awful generalization.

 

[AJL67]

I know someone that owns two every successful cigar lounges / bars here in my area, there is a lot of money to be made, and they draw from multiple demographics from the successful guys that want to go out and buy high end sticks to show off, to the old time smokers, to hipsters and everything in between. When i was caring for my niece I was in that lounge every day, smoking and working from there for almost 2 years, many different groups of guys would herf (meet up there) on their special days of the week, they are a very social environment where everyone talks to everyone with no barriers, the cigars bring people together. Also kind of interesting is while a lot of females have always smoked cigars it's actually becoming more popular with the ladies and the cigar lounge close to me has a monthly ladies group that meets, drinks, has cigars and does their thing, that group when from 4 or 5 people to about 30 on an average meeting night now.

A very good cigar friend once told me cigars are what brought us all together, but it's the friendships that keep us together.

I'm sure there will be a lot of interesting opinions from people that rarely or never hang out in cigar lounges lol

Edit: Ive never in decades of smoking cigars seen anyone "check out bands to see if they were the right ones". Most people take the bands off because no one cares, i've seen people smoking cuban davidoffs sitting talking to guys smoking Acids and never once cared, but whatever.

 

[warren]

And often the shops that do carry both cigars and pipes don’t represent them equally.

My guess? No money in pipes in your area. Or, at least little profit in catering to a consumer base which doesn't really exist in your locale.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

For the last 60 years or so Bad television and to some extent bad movies have given pipe smoking simplistic popular connotations which can seem comic, ridiculous, pretentious, etc. Many people wish to avoid this, so they instead smoke cigars, which have been portrayed in a way that many people find more appealing.

 

[briarbuck]

Some people use a pipe as a prop to make them look smarter. I don't have that problem because I know I am.

 

[jpberg]

Off topic.
Somehow, the 90s ruined cigars.
Such a drastic change (in my little corners of the world) from the mid eighties to early nineties.

 

[AJL67]

Some people use a pipe as a prop to make them look smarter. I don't have that problem because I know I am.

 

[kcghost]

At my shop we have cigars at price ranges for everybody. No booze though but we can bring the stuff in. Pipes are decidedly for the older smoker who simply is not going to be spending a lot of dough. With online ordering being so prevalent it's tough for retailers to stock a decent selection of pipes and tobaccos at price that is comfortable.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

The market dictates what business people do, at least those that stay in business. The cigar market is many, many times larger than the pipe and pipe tobacco market. A shop that stocks 200 pipes is tying up as much as $20,000 in inventory. The time it takes to turn that inventory, versus cigars, is much greater. Most of these shops can't afford to tie up that kind of money for an extended period of time. And look at the space 100 pounds of pipe tobacco takes up vs cigars. That also hits the bottom line. Why take up shelf space with pipe tobacco when you can probably display 5 to 10 times as much revenue with cigars in the same space?

So the answer is quite simple as it often is. $$$$. For every 50 to 100 cigar smokers who walk in the door and spend $20 to $100, or even more, on cigars, there's 1 serious pipe smoker who walks through the door who might occasionally buy a pipe and most often might buy $15 worth of tobacco. Think about it. One tin of tobacco lasts as long as 15 to 20 cigars.

 

[bullet08]

Why did the tobacco pipe fell out of favor? It seems like it was popular even in 70s. If there are plenty of people still demanding pipes and pipe tobacco, I think more places will cater to pipe smoking. But something is preventing more people from smoking pipe. It's easy to understand pipes are not exactly as easy as cigar. But if spending money is the issue, store owners can raise the price. Good number of people, at least on the forum, buy pipes left and right. So the customer base has shifted over to different products. From history, cigarettes were already taking up smoking habits from pipes around WWI. Mainly due to the convenience. Quicker smoke, easy of disposal.. But cigar smoke isn't exactly short. Why people have turned away from pipe should be the answer.

 

[jndyer]

As has been stated it is about economics. Cigars just make more money for the shop owner. If you believe this is not correct for your area, you should open up a pipe shop and tobacco shop. I am not saying this in a sarcastic way. If there is a hole in the market, then it would be wise to exploit it.

Now, on to why I think cigars are so popular. Well actually, I will give one reason that has not been stated here. If someone is only an occasional user of premium tobacco, the a cigar is much more convenient. You can purchase the occasional cigar sit down and enjoy it. Even if you want your own tools or the trade, all you need is a lighter and a reasonably priced cutter. On the flip side, if you only occasionally smoke a pipe, you first have to own a pipe. When you decide you want to have a smoke an open that tin of tobacco, then the rest of the tin will go dry before you get around to smoking the rest of the tin. In short, for the occasional smoker, cigar are just much more convenient.

 

[badbriar]

I have two or three favorite cigar shops that I frequently visit. One in particular is Friday Church for a group of friends. We bring in our own various bourbons and share with whomever likes to imbibe.
If I could find a pipe establishment, such as Edwards, in the Tampa area, I'd gladly darken their doors on a regular basis. That's a really nice and friendly pipe & cigar shop.
Sadly, tax here in Florida on pipe tobacco is quite high at 85%. Cigar tax in Florida is among the lowest in the US at 0%. Yes - that is no state cigar tax here.
That's probably why most pipe establishments in Florida have gone by the wayside.
A number of years ago, I remember going into Coronas on Sandlike in Orlando and seeing a tin of Dunhill Nightcap for $34.00. At the time, that same tin online was hovering around $10 to $11.
Still, one wonders why some pipe shops don't carry pipes and pipe tobacco & supplies.
RR