Nearly a year after the Augusta Commission voted to amend city’s smoking ordinance, a new upscale cigar bar has opened downtown.
On Friday morning, the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta will host the ribbon-cutting of Augusta Cigar Club, a lounge for tobacco connoisseurs. The club is in a historic building, a formerly the site of a speakeasy, the City Club and the Ice Lounge Restaurant and Bar, on the 700 block of Broad Street, two doors down from the Miller Theater.
“We love what they’ve done with the space so far,” said Katherine Bonner, project coordinator with the Downtown Development Authority. “They’ve definitely taken the inside and really updated and modernized it, but at the same time just made it a really inviting space.”
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While Augusta is home to several smoke shops, such as the Ikonz Cigar Lounge on North Leg Rd., and Aficionados, also downtown on Eighth Street, the Cigar Club will be downtown’s first fully functional cigar lounge since the ordinance amendment last year. Along with offering choice tobacco and a full bar, the space requires a dress code, features live jazz and even offers free glasses of wine to women patrons during its “Ladies Night” every Thursday.
Owner Jim Lee, who hails from Jackson, Miss., sought to set up the bar after visiting Augusta for the first time during last year’s Masters tournament.
“I fell in love with the city my very first weekend,” said Lee. “The downtown area is steeped in tradition, and it has just beautiful building architectural design. When we saw this building I immediately fell in love with it, so we decided to go invest in opening an adult cigar bar.”
The club caters to patrons ages 30 years and older, fitting Lee’s aim to open a space for adults to unwind, work or socialize in a relaxed environment. Along with offering choice tobacco and a full bar, the space requires a dress code, features live jazz and even offers free glasses of wine to women patrons during its “Ladies Night” every Thursday.
Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. signed the city ordinance restricting smoking in public places on June 19, 2018, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2019.
On Aug. 3, 2021, the Augusta Commission approved a motion direction the Planning Development to draw up an amendment to this ordinance to accommodate opening a cigar bar.
This amendment included a new definition of a cigar lounge: “stand-alone retail establishment authorized to sell or serve alcohol for consumption on premises, and which certifies that 20 percent of more of their annual gross sales revenue is from the sale of cigars,” and complies with Augusta codes.
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On Oct. 5, 2021, the Augusta Commission approved this amendment, as well as the establishment of a regulatory fee for cigar bars ($125 per year).
Augusta Cigar Club had its soft opening on Sept. 24, but the ribbon cutting will be on Friday at 722 Broad St., at 11 a.m.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
