Thinking...

I went to Lowes to make up for the spare apartment key I lost (and discovered a really cool key-making kiosk). On my way home I decided I needed to reward myself for the substantial raise I received at Digium. So, I dropped by The Cigar Room in Madison, AL. I’ve been there at least thirteen times in the past, but never ventured into the back lounge to smoke a cigar. I bought my favorite cigar, the Acid Kuba Kuba from Drew Estate. Thankfully The Cigar Room has reasonable prices (not like another local store in their overpriced, shopping-mall real estate). I cut my cigar with a cutter called “The Shuriken,” and lit my cigar with the shop’s hand-held Bunsen burner-like device. I mosied on back to the lounge, to check it out and smoke my cigar.

There were large TVs on both walls, and in one corner. The walls were painted a reddish brown, very classy. There was cigar and classic martini lounge decor hung on those walls, and the floor was some kind of rich, wooden tiling. The floor was littered with leather sofas and chairs, and there were plenty of end tables with ash trays for your cigars, and there were ottomans for your feet. The place had a really class lounge feel. Since there were folks watching television, there was no music. There was a wet bar in the back, but it wasn’t the kind where people can sit at it and interact with a bartender. It was like something you’d find in a house, that didn’t have room for an entire bar. This got me to thinking…

My hometown, Mobile, AL, does not appear to have anything like this that I know of. I think an excellent business idea would be to open my own place like that there. My thoughts may be quite ambitious here, but I’d also like to add a small but full-service bar, and sell choice wines on top of that. Maybe even have a small kitchen to serve wine bar food. As always, it would be location, location, location! I don’t think I’d be able to start on this for several years, but at least I have a seed of an idea. At least now I’m documenting that! I’m wondering if there is an Alabama state law against allowing smoking in a cigar lounge and serving alcohol directly to customers. One of the many things I will have to research. However, my first order of business is to research this heavily. I may not have all the time in the world, but I can’t be bothered with that now. Someone, or some organization, may be way ahead of me yet. Can’t control that.