JR Cigars to Change Business Model.

[iamn8]

With the political climate concerning tobacco consumption, there being literally no place to smoke, I'm shocked these operations haven't franchised. Smokers are always seeking the rare smokey lounges vanishing into extinction. With so few smokers, it makes sense to cater to, what seems to be, a clientele with disposable income, a true Smokers Haven perhaps located near major airports

 

[carytobacco]

I agree, yet 99% of my business is in and out, cash and carry business. I don't know where people are smoking all this tobacco, but it's not in my lounge.

 

[ssjones]

The Whippany NJ store is usually packed. You can barely move on a Saturday. Hopefully the expanded lounge (under construction on my last visit) gives that locale some breathing room.

 

[yazamitaz]

They need one in Southern NJ. If they need commercial real estate help I would be more than happy to show them around.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I was sad when I read this. Whenever we drive to Florida from Canada I always made it a habit that we drive through Statesville NC so that I can stop at JR and load up on cigars. I am sad to learn this location is gone. I wonder if there is another along the same route.

 

[JimInks]

There's one in Burlington, NC right off I-40, but it's almost two hours away from Statesville.

 

[carytobacco]

They closed the one in Statesville but opened a new store under their new lounge concept in Mooresville, just south of Statesville a little off I-77.

 

[mso489]

I think there's still one just off I-95 at or around Smithfield N.C. This was definitely of the discount mall genre last time I was there, but they had a good sized humidor with a big inventory of cigars and a substantial stock of pipe tobacco, tins and tubs. They seemed to always have business in the humidor and several staff members.

 

[deathmetal]

I keep hoping that Costco will open a pipe/cigar store. This sounds a lot like what they're intending, although the wording is somewhat vague.

 

[mso489]

It would be interesting to see how Costco would handle cigars and pipes. According to a TV feature on Costco I saw, one of their marketing principles is not to offer too many choices of brands and variety to the consumer because it stymies buyers and often stalls their decisions. But a large array of choices is part of the cigar and pipe tobacco ethos, and pipe buying as well, so Costco might have to adjust or compromise, or limit their sales, and volume is everything in this business plan. I'll stay tuned. I'm off warehouse club retailers because I don't find the larger quantities cost effective, but I'm always interested to follow the trends.