TOB_Magazine

[ 76 ] TOBACCO BUSINESS [ MAY / JUNE | 18 ] had to be brought in through the window, and they had to blast that exposed brick wall with dry ice to clean it off.” The result is a gorgeous, welcoming space featuring a mix of natural and accent track lighting (see sidebar: “The Lounge Life”). Today and Tomorrow Having survived this long, Gary Kolesaire could be forgiv- en for resting on his laurels, but that’s not in his character. He continually searches out new products and ways to improve his store and the expert service he and Barbara offer to their loyal customers.  Kolesaire takes pride in his management of inventory, a skill he learned in his previous career and honed as a cigar shop owner. “We know our customer base,” he says. “Whether it is a rare Dunhill Pipe or the perfect cigar for a friend, they listen to everyone. This lets them make an informed decision on what’s right for their location.” As a member of the Tobacconists’ Association of Amer- ica and the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR), Gary Kolesaire also actively advocates for the industry, which he says is an unfortunate necessity in cigar retail. “To me, the biggest challenge facing us hasn’t changed—it’s still the taxes and regulations we face,” he says, noting that he’s teamed up with other retailers to fight legislative proposals that threaten their livelihoods. “We all have to work together to fight for the industry we love.” TB The Lounge Life “There’s a certain way to do things here in Ridgewood,” says Gary Kole- saire, describing the features and practices that make the 2,500-square- foot Davidoff Lounge in Ridgewood, New Jersey, a success. “We run it like a country club.” By day, Davidoff Lounge members come in through the store entrance and make their way upstairs to the lounge, which is situated above the downtown fray and stays open until 10 p.m. At night, after the store closes, members use the formal, street-level entrance, and a host or hostess is on hand at the lounge entrance, in case a member forgets their locker key or wants to buy a cigar.  The club is kept immaculate at all times, notes Kolesaire, who is a big believer in presentation. “If you see dust in the store window, you’re going to wonder if there’s dust on the cigars inside,” he says. “Plus, I don’t live in a messy house; I’m not going to work in one.”  The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood’s Davidoff Lounge currently has 50 members, and Kolesaire plans to cap membership at 70. Members receive access to the lounge, as well as use of a locker. Nonmembers can also purchase a day pass, which the shop advertises as the perfect gift for a cigar smoker.  The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood hosts events at least once every six weeks, promoting them via email and social media. “We try to hold events that offer a learning experience,” says Kolesaire. “For example, we recent- ly had a rep from Davidoff here who did a vertical Nicaragua tasting, going through each cigar point by point. If I’m going to close the lounge for an event, I want the attendees to take home a piece of knowledge. The Tobacco Shop Continued Photos by Jennifer Gelfand Punch was rescued from General Cigar’s former headquarters. Barbara and Gary Kolesaire