La Casa Del Habano Montreal to close 5/31/20

[El Presidente]

5 hours ago, FrancisK7 said:

The place isn't closing due to new regulations, they haven't changed in a while, not that I'm aware. 

Plain Packaging. 

 

[LLC]

The place isn't closing due to new regulations, they haven't changed in a while, not that I'm aware. I'm guessing it's more to do with attendance going down and costs going up, most notably the rent. Montreal has been a nightmare of construction for the past decade. Impossible to find parking, PITA traffic and many more irritants. I avoid the city as much as possible these days. Also not everyone has the budget to pay 4x list price for their sticks (a Monty No 2 goes for about $38USD) but Montreal has enough money to keep a place like this alive. 

The plain packaging regulations are a huge change for cigar retailers. The distributor in Canada is also the one running the LCDH stores and I think with everything going on in the industry and retailing in general, they decided it easier to just concentrate on the wholesale side of the business and leave the retailing to others.


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[JamesNYC]

Tony told me it was a corporate decision, without any further details.

I know that they paid seemingly high prices for their cigars, and then huge taxes on top of that so for many the prices were an issue. And they were constantly fighting attempts to regulate their shop, but still were able to allow smoking, liquor and coffee service.

Usually a place will close if they can't make money, so I assume that was the bottom line reason.

I'm thinking of flying up just to make one last trip, which seems like a waste of money, but might just do it anyway.

It sucks for me personally because I just bought a vacation home in the Laurentians and was planning to spend some quality time at LCDH.

[Puros Y Vino]

FWIW.  The word on plain packaging in Canada is this.  The plain packaging will NOT be applied by the wholesaler in Canada. They will be applied directly in Cuba.  This is the deal the Canadian gov't made.  Habanos will release the Canadian based orders as is to another party(possibly Cuban gov/military) who will in turn apply the plain packaging for the Canadian market in Cuba.  Then, those boxes will be exported to the Canadian distributor.  You can bet that labour cost will also be added to the cigars.  An extra bonus for your dollar to get blase packaging.  This move was done to potentially "curb" abuses in the Canadian market with potential switcheroo's / fakes.  

[BrightonCorgi]

Nestled next Holt Renfrew and the Ritz Carlton, the rent must be super lofty.  Been going to that LCDH well over 20 years and have never seen it packed and can't imagine they do too much business.  There was an uptick in business in the late 90's, but even then (Montreal had cheaper rents back then too) I find it hard to believe it was a profitable business.  Davidoff was like 50 yards from that LCDH they also closed a long time ago.

[El Presidente]

36 minutes ago, FrancisK7 said:

 So I don't think the packaging change would affect the LCDH closing

It you go by all other retailers affected around the world, Plain Packaging legislation  takes away the  tourist business (for Canada that is US buyers coming through the store) and domestic box sales.  If that was the cream that was keeping your business afloat, then you would shut the doors before it came in. These businesses are fully aware of the impact of PP overseas. 

LCDH are difficult businesses to run requiring a certain set of circumstances to thrive.  Many survive/thrive with high pricing. None can with PP. 

[inter4alia]

It looks like I will find myself in Montreal on Friday, February 28th.  I plan to visit to the LCDH that evening for a couple of drinks and smokes.  Let me know if anyone else will be in the area that evening and wants to meet up at the LCDH.  

[LLC]

It looks like I will find myself in Montreal on Friday, February 28th.  I plan to visit to the LCDH that evening for a couple of drinks and smokes.  Let me know if anyone else will be in the area that evening and wants to meet up at the LCDH.  

I’m in Montreal working in the 27th but will make time to stop in as I often do. Too bad I will miss you by a day.


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[Cigar Surgeon]

On 2/9/2020 at 2:44 PM, El Presidente said:

Plain Packaging. 

 

But hey don't you know my article about the death of tobacco in Canada was overblown and hysterical. ?‍♂️

As far as I'm aware that only leaves the Q lounge near Edmonton, the Manitoba cigar lounge in Winnipeg and Thomas Hinds* in Winnipeg.

[Puros Y Vino]

4 minutes ago, Cigar Surgeon said:

But hey don't you know my article about the death of tobacco in Canada was overblown and hysterical. ?‍♂️

As far as I'm aware that only leaves the Q lounge near Edmonton, the Manitoba cigar lounge in Winnipeg and Thomas Hinds* in Winnipeg.

There are still a few in Montreal and one in Quebec City.  There is Bacchus near Ottawa (on Indigenous lands or course) There might be others in smaller Quebec towns that I'm not aware of.  

[BrightonCorgi]

April is as soon as I can get to the LCDH in Montreal.  What happens to remaining stock in the store?  Are they having a sale?

[Puros Y Vino]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

April is as soon as I can get to the LCDH in Montreal.  What happens to remaining stock in the store?  Are they having a sale?

The stock will most likely go back to Havana House.  It's illegal to have sales on tobacco in Canada.

[BrightonCorgi]

32 minutes ago, bundwallah said:

The stock will most likely go back to Havana House.  It's illegal to have sales on tobacco in Canada.

Kind figured that, but I they must blowing out accessories which they had some top notch brands of.

[BrightonCorgi]

4 hours ago, bundwallah said:

There are still a few in Montreal and one in Quebec City.  There is Bacchus near Ottawa (on Indigenous lands or course) There might be others in smaller Quebec towns that I'm not aware of.  

What else is there for a good cigar lounge in Montreal?

[Puros Y Vino]

4 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Kind figured that, but I they must blowing out accessories which they had some top notch brands of.

Yes. Accessories will go at excellent discounts

[Cigar Surgeon]

2 hours ago, bundwallah said:

The stock will most likely go back to Havana House.  It's illegal to have sales on tobacco in Canada.

It's going to be interesting to see how that plays out this summer when tobacconists across Canada realize they're sitting on hundreds of thousands in inventory that will be not legal to sell in May, 2021.

[inter4alia]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

What else is there for a good cigar lounge in Montreal?

Not sure if it's good or not because I've only been to the LCDH but there is a place called Stogies that is walking distance from the LCDH. 

[LLC]

Not sure if it's good or not because I've only been to the LCDH but there is a place called Stogies that is walking distance from the LCDH. 

Stogies is good. A little further away is Rib’n Reef Steakhouse & Cigar Lounge. You can bring your own to both.


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[treberty]

4 hours ago, LLC said:

Stogies is good. A little further away is Rib’n Reef Steakhouse & Cigar Lounge. You can bring your own to both.


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In addition to those two, Chez Alexandre (on Peel) has a lounge on the 2nd floor.  And there is Whisky Café, on Bernard St.  Finally, every 1st Wednesday of the month Aro in St-Laurent holds a bbq night... better to go in the Summer though.

[BrightonCorgi]

On 2/14/2020 at 5:44 PM, LLC said:

Stogies is good. A little further away is Rib’n Reef Steakhouse & Cigar Lounge. You can bring your own to both.

Not a fan of Stogies, seems too much like a college dive bar atmosphere.  Is Rib'n Reef Steakouse the old Queue d'Cheval restaurant building?

[Puros Y Vino]

9 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Not a fan of Stogies, seems too much like a college dive bar atmosphere.  Is Rib'n Reef Steakouse the old Queue d'Cheval restaurant building?

Stogies is far better during the afternoon vs the evening. The music is Frank & Dean vs blaring house music at night. 

[LLC]

Stogies is far better during the afternoon vs the evening. The music is Frank & Dean vs blaring house music at night. 

This has been my experience a well.


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[LLC]

Not a fan of Stogies, seems too much like a college dive bar atmosphere.  Is Rib'n Reef Steakouse the old Queue d'Cheval restaurant building?

Not sure about the history of Rib n’ Reef but I believe they’ve been around almost 60 years. They are in Dacarie Blvd.


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[CanuckSARTech]

On 2/14/2020 at 11:02 AM, Cigar Surgeon said:

But hey don't you know my article about the death of tobacco in Canada was overblown and hysterical. ?‍♂️

As far as I'm aware that only leaves the Q lounge near Edmonton, the Manitoba cigar lounge in Winnipeg and Thomas Hinds* in Winnipeg.

 

On 2/14/2020 at 11:15 AM, bundwallah said:

There are still a few in Montreal and one in Quebec City.  There is Bacchus near Ottawa (on Indigenous lands or course) There might be others in smaller Quebec towns that I'm not aware of.  

6 or 7 others in total (main ones) in Quebec.  All listed in other posts here now too.

Bacchus is in the "Hilton Lac Leamy" casino and hotel in Gatineau, QC.  Great spot.

 

[Vitruvius20]

It's sad news indeed, but what would be a real shame would be to lose another cigar lounge here in Montreal.

Apparently even though you can't open a new cigar lounge under the existing laws, it is possible to tranfer a license to operate a cigar lounge from an existing location to a new one, although I dont know exactly what are the rules.

Anyone knows ?

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