New Chairmen at Local Cigar Lounge

Three new owners are at the helm of Geist’s only cigar shop, Chairman’s Cigar Lounge (11653 Fox Road). After the previous owners closed shop last November, three regulars got together to keep the doors open: Winston Strunk, George Stergiopoulos, and Ron Sullivan.

Stergiopoulos owns the Greek Islands Restaurant on South Meridian Street downtown. Strunk works at United Water where he met Sullivan, a 20-year councilman for the Town of Cumberland, Indiana. What they lack in retail cigar sales experience they make up for in business savvy. But Sullivan admits that even though they have a lot of business experience under their belts, selling cigars has been tough.

“It’s been slower than we would have liked,” admits Sullivan.

A slower economy and new SCHIP tax which puts up to a dollar tax on each cigar sold can be part of the blame. While summer months are historically good months for cigar sales, Sullivan admits they are still waiting for the pick-up in business.

“People are looking more at the price point of cigars, usually in the $2-$20 range.”

Chairman’s Cigar Lounge welcomes smoking in their store, one of only a few safe havens for smokers. A leather sofa, large screen television, and plenty of ashtrays are a welcome oasis for the cigar aficionado.