Search Results for: cigar wars

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Cigar Wars: Government Action Could Hit JT Cigarro’s “Members Only Room”

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JT Cigarro

A cigar lounge in Fargo, ND could be facing legal action after trying to exploit a loophole in the statewide smoking ban.

According to an article written for a ND news outlet:

“Fargo Cass Public Health director Ruth Bachmeier says she plans to file a complaint with Cass County prosecutors against the JT Cigarro owner, who’s been allowing people to smoke in a “members only” room through what he has called a “loophole” in the law.”

This strikes me as just another example of the bizarre trend of state clampdown on private smoking locations. As many non-smokers agree, there is no compelling public health reason disallow cigar lounges from allowing smoking, especially in a separate members only room. Every individual entering that shop, especially members, are more than aware that they will encounter smoke, and have implicitly agreed to take the risk of being in the same room as smoke.

 

This story should also stand as an example to NYC cigar shops that open and allow smoking before smoking licenses are obtained: don’t do it. It isn’t worth getting a $5000 fine or having your shop closed. Wait for your permit.

For more information about JT Cigarro, check out their Facebook page. Read the full article here.

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Cigar Wars: Missouri Seeks to Dramatically Hike Tobacco Tax, IPCPR Opposes

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September 27, 2012 (Jefferson, MO) – Proposition B, a proposed 150% tax increase on cigars and pipe tobacco, in addition to a 760% tax increase on cigarettes, is causing quite a stir in Missouri. Politicians claim the tax hike will help fund education and health care, while small business owners are criticizing the open attack on their businesses.

Opponents of the initiative, including the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR), point out that none of the tax revenue raised by Prop. B is required to be spent on tobacco-related illnesses, but rather that a board of bureaucrats directs where the money is spent, even going so far as being able to fund their own special-interest groups.

“We elected these men and women to protect our businesses, not tax them into the ground. One group of business shouldn’t be continually attacked simply because some bureaucrats need to fund a project or initiative. All Missourians should pay their fair share in taxes, rather than one group being endlessly attacked,” said Curt Diebel, owner of Diebel’s Sportsmens Gallery in Kansas City, MO.

The IPCPR also fears that this tax increase will result in “border bleed,” the movement of tobacco sales to neighboring states with lower taxes, ultimately harming local businesses and forfeiting the tax revenue that the Missouri state government sought in the first place.

“Most small tobacconists throughout this country are mom-and-pop operations dotting the American Main Street. In an already tumultuous economy, the government should be focused on preserving jobs, not destroying them,” said Bill Spann, CEO of the IPCPR.

The initiative will be up for vote in November.

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Cigar Wars: IPCPR Opposes Omaha City Council Tax Plan

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September 25, 2012 (Omaha, NE) — A recently proposed occupation tax in Omaha, Nebraska threatens to levy a 7% tax on sales of all tobacco products. The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) strongly opposes this “specialty tax” as it will be detrimental to area premium cigar and pipe retailers.

The tax is designed to raise funds for a University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) expansion. UNMC has $1.2 billion dollars available, which is more than enough to pay for the project. Taxpayers are wondering why they are being forced to fund the university’s expansion.

The IPCPR fears the tax can lead to “border bleed:” the movement of sales from local businesses to neighboring shops as well as to online and mail-­order retailers in order to avoid onerous taxation. Small businesses, including premium tobacco shops, are extremely sensitive to swings in economy and taxation. Adding on yet another tax only compounds the problem in an abysmal economy and increases stress on businesses by driving sales out of  the city.

“The tobacco industry is not a bottomless well for taxes, fees and the like. We are mom­‐and‐pop, Main Street businesses in an industry struggling to survive under increasing scrutiny ad attacks from our very own elected officials, who we elected to defend us. The people who work in this industry shouldn’t have to go home every night fearing that their jobs are being regulated or taxed out of existence every time the government has a project they want to complete” said Bill Spann, CEO of the IPCPR.

This city-­forced tax will certainly prove challenging as businesses struggle to regain footing  and grow in this economy.

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Cigar Wars: Grant’s Pipe Shop in San Francisco Under Fire

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UPDATE: As of Saturday, September 29th, 2012, Grant’s Pipe Shop is closed and looking for a new location.

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If you have been a member of the U.S. cigar community for any real length of time, you aren’t surprised at this point when another cigar shop comes under pressure to close down by some city or state bureaucrats. In this case, San Francisco’s oldest operating tobacco shop is under pressure to close down. The official press release below:

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September 18, 2012 (San Francisco, CA) – Grant’s Pipe Shop is San Francisco’s oldest operating traditional tobacco shop, and its historic walk-in humidor was the first in the State of California. Premium Tobacco enthusiasts from around the world have been stopping by Grant’s Pipe Shop’s current Market Street location since 1963, but the shop’s history begins with the Gold Rush of 1849. Originally supplying miners and merchant seamen with premium tobaccos and fine pipes.

One of Grant’s most famous customers in the 1800s was local eccentric,“Emperor Norton.” Grant’s Pipe Shop is one of San Francisco’s oldest small businesses. Store managers of the previous shop owner, Edward L. Grant, had an opportunity to continue this San Francisco legacy when they successfully took ownership in 2004 after Mr. Grant’s passing in 2003. In 2006, the lease expired, and the shop has been on a month-to-month lease ever since, despite numerous attempts to negotiate for a longer-term lease.

The Chancery Building, in which Grant’s Pipe Shop is located, changed ownership in 2009, but the building’s management, Kevin Colombo of Terra Verde Commercial and new landlords Chelsea Pacific Holdings, LP, and manager Zack Faidi of Chelsea Pacific Group, LLC, have rejected reasonable negotiations.

Recently, the owners of the Chancery Building applied for a permit through the San Francisco Building Department to construct build outs that will affect Grant’s current space, including its historic walk-in humidor. When one of the General Partners of Grant’s, Joe A. Barron, inquired about details, such as the length and timing of multiple planned construction phases and other normal concerns of tenants when negotiating these matters, the owners of the Chancery Building in return served Grant’s with a 30-Day Notice to Terminate Tenancy, bringing about what could be the end of this San Francisco institution.

Grant’s Pipe Shop is the latest in a series of San Francisco landmarks to come under fire by local landlords eager to raise rents. Prior to serving the conviction notice, the Chancery Building initially suggested doubling the rent in 2009, which would have effectively put Grant’s out of business. Additionally, the Chancery Building’s management has seemed more interested in probing Grant’s current owners into selling the business or misleading Grant’s proprietors over the last three years, leading to speculation that the building’s management or landlords have never intended to offer the current owners of Grant’s Pipe Shop a long-term lease to stabilize this historic shop.

Grant’s owners remain dedicated to maintaining the legacy and tradition of quality expected of San Francisco’s oldest and most well known tobacconist. Quality inventory of tobacco products will be on clearance starting September 18, 2012.

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Cigar Wars: Saudi Arabia Bans Smoking

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If you were planning on enjoying a stogie anywhere in Saudi, things just got a bit complicated.

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Saudi Arabia Orders Smoking Ban

July 31, 2012

[Washington, DC] –  Interior Minister Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz announced this week that Saudi Arabia will begin enforcing the royal decree banning smoking in public places effective immediately.  Under the official order, smoking, including shisha (waterpipe), is banned in all government facilities and most commercial areas, including restaurants, supermarkets, and shopping malls. The order also prohibits the sale of tobacco to those under the age of 18.

“This ban represents a significant step in the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to decrease the smoking population in Saudi Arabia,” said Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. “Saudi Arabia is committed to improving the overall health and well-being of its citizens, and continues to focus considerable efforts on health initiatives throughout the Kingdom.”

Saudi Arabia has launched several anti-smoking campaigns in recent years, including the elimination of all smoking in airports.

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