I was listening to a podcast that briefly diverted into a debate on when cigar bars started and if they were big in the '90s. JamesG, cigar aficionado, what's the timeline on these things?

I’m not too familiar with that, but I think they first came about during the mid-90s. I have never been to one as I go to cigar lounges and private clubs which are BYOB (no liquor license). There was a cigar boom in the mid-90s which had its pros and cons for the cigar industry.

Other states may have alcohol and smoking on-premise as NYC has very strict laws. I also heard that NYC stopped giving out licenses for on-premise smoking establishments, so the places open now are all grandfathered in.

I might sound like a hypocrite for saying so, since I smoke cigarettes (and need to stop it), but I only do it alone, or in a bar which allows smoking other people are smoking in.

In the 1990's , I worked for a Harrah's casino in Mississippi. One night a huge group of cigar smokers came in there and stunk up the place. I dealt 21 and had to stand less than two feet from these morons all night long. Their burning turds were nausiating to say the least.

Couldnt imagine going into a cigar bar without dying. Now if it was a marijuana blunt bar, different story.

Remembering tobacconist "Tinder Box" with their nearly ubiquitous mall presence, I don't think there is even one left in my immediate area.

But, I recall in the 1990's when California went "Gestapo" against smoking in all indoor public places, the Tinder Box store in our mall was the one oasis in the desert where one could light up indoors.

It was sort of an unofficial courtesy that you were expected to buy anything you expected to smoke, on that particular visit, and not bring prior purchases to the store. So, during inclement weather I'd sometimes see guys buy 2-3 packs of cigarettes over the course of the same day, so they could light up with the blessings of the store operator.

I see Nothing good about these places, might as well call them a Coffin bar.

My friend buried her son who chewed the stuff...her heart is full of sadness and loss.

One saving grace of a big ol cigar. Even when you are sitting on a bench out in the park, most soccer moms won't let their little snot monsters get anywhere near you , so long as you maintain a haze around your immediate surroundings.

One saving grace of a big ol cigar. Even when you are sitting on a bench out in the park, most soccer moms won't let their little snot monsters get anywhere near you , so long as you maintain a haze around your immediate surroundings.

Hey, calling little klds those names is not living up to your Username..:(

It's very disturbing how I'm similar to a huge insincere spider in that regard, just waiting on the next hapless victim to run afoul of my web, isn't it?

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