LEONARDTOWN, Md. — A familiar Leonardtown cigar lounge is preparing to enter a new chapter, pairing its established bar and gathering space with the inventory and experience of one of Maryland’s largest premium cigar retailers.
The St. Mary’s County Alcohol Beverage Board unanimously approved an application Aug. 13 to transfer the liquor license held by Leonardtown Cigars to Davidus Cigars Leonardtown.
The transfer places the business under the direction of Davidus Cigars President and CEO Stephen J. Castro and longtime Leonardtown Cigars operator Jacki L. Wobser. The lounge is located at 40955 Merchants Lane, Suite 14, in Leonardtown.
Despite the new name and ownership structure, customers should not expect the lounge they know to disappear.
“We’re keeping everything exactly the same,” Castro told the board.
Familiar Lounge, Expanded Cigar Selection
Leonardtown Cigars is already a full-service cigar shop, bar and lounge with a walk-in humidor, private cigar lockers and seating for customers. The business has operated in Leonardtown for about a decade under Wobser and her husband, Jeff Lustig.
Its current website describes the location as having a 3,400-square-foot lounge, a large bar and a 600-square-foot humidor. The bar offers beer, wine and premium spirits, while its humidor carries brands including Arturo Fuente, Ashton, Camacho, Drew Estate, Padron and Perdomo.
Under the newly approved transfer, the location will operate as Davidus Cigars Leonardtown. Castro told the board that the primary focus will remain on premium cigars, pipe tobacco and related products.
“We plan to run it as a cigar store with the option to be able to purchase alcoholic beverages for our customers,” Castro said. “The focus is on the humidor and selling products that are related to cigars and pipe tobacco.”
The shop expects to carry cigars ranging from about $10 to as much as $100, according to Castro.
“We’re talking premium cigars and pipe tobacco — high-end stuff,” he said.
Two Areas Of Experience Come Together
Davidus Cigars was founded by brothers Steve and David Castro in Frederick in 1996. The company now operates 13 Maryland locations, including shops in Annapolis, Baltimore, Frederick, Rockville, Towson and Westminster.
Its Leonardtown location will stand apart from the company’s other stores because customers will be able to purchase alcoholic beverages at the lounge.
Castro told the board that although the company’s other cigar shops include customer lounges, none of them currently sells alcohol. Wobser’s continued involvement will provide the experience needed to oversee that part of the Leonardtown business.
“She has a pretty good handle on it and has done a really good job as far as helping with the application and getting everything done and knowing the business,” Castro said. “I know the cigar business. So between that, I think we’re going to make it work pretty well.”
Wobser told the board she has approximately 10 years of experience handling alcohol service, including experience connected to a cigar business in Waldorf.
Existing Layout Will Remain
The board approved the transfer without conditions after confirming that the lounge’s floor plan will remain unchanged.
Board members were also told that Leonardtown Cigars had no known history of alcohol-related problems at the location. The business passed alcohol and tobacco compliance checks conducted shortly before the meeting.
The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office listed Leonardtown Cigars among the businesses that passed a recent tobacco compliance check.
The approved application transfers Leonardtown Cigars’ Class D, on-sale-only beer, wine and liquor license to Davidus Cigars Leonardtown LLC. The license permits alcoholic beverages to be consumed at the lounge but does not authorize package sales for off-site consumption.
No firm date for completing the rebranding or formally unveiling Davidus Cigars Leonardtown was announced during the meeting.
Additional information about the current lounge is available through the Leonardtown Cigars website. Information about the incoming company and its other Maryland stores is available at the Davidus Cigars website.
Watch the approval at 10:35 below:
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