Fort Wayne, Ind. City Council Approves Cigar Lounges, Ordinance Awaits Mayor’s Signature

At its meeting on Tuesday, the Fort Wayne City Council approved an ordinance that will allow for the opening of new cigar lounges in the city.

In order to meet the definition of a cigar lounge, a business must meet five requirements:

• It must prohibit entry to any person under 21-years-old;
• The owner or operator of the business must hold a beer, liquor, or wine retailer’s permit, but must not operate as a restaurant where food and beverage sales equals or exceed 60 percent of the business’s annual gross income;
• The business must limit smokign in the establishment to cigar smoking;
• After a year of operation, the business must generate at least 20 percent of its gross income from the sale of cigars and the rental of onsite humidors;
• There must be the posting of conspicuous signs that display the message that cigarette smoking is prohibited.

The ordinance passed by an 8-1 vote. The bill was still needing to be signed by Mayor Sharon Tucker before it can go into effect, though it will be in effect upon her approval.

Fort Wayne is located in the northeastern part of the state and is home to approximately 273,000 residents.