As of May 1, 2010 it will be against the law to smoke in restaurants and bars. This legislation, similar to the bans that are occurring in states across the country, not only impacts thousands of cigarette smokers, but also cigar aficionados. In spite of the smoking bans, a simple maps-based website and its visitors are doing what they can to help cigar lovers continue to find places to enjoy a stogie.
The concept is completely community-driven. Cigar lovers from around the world log onto the site each day to add places that they know are cigar friendly so other enthusiasts can find and enjoy them. Since the site’s creation over two years ago, close to 1,000 cigar bars and cigar-friendly restaurants have been added to the map.
Cigar shops, cigar brands, and cigar bars have also found it to be an ideal spot to bring awareness to business using the site’s options. The site tends to be one of the last places that cigar smokers visit before they head out the door to enjoy a stogie, which provides perfect top-of-mind for cigar brands and businesses.
The impact of the smoking bans can also be clearly seen on the CigarPlaces.com map. Users have recently been given the ability to log onto the site and flag locations as “no longer cigar friendly.” Visitors to the website can see cigar-unfriendly locations listed as red markers on the map.
As the smoking bans continue to spread throughout the country, the site’s operators are counting on the social aspect of cigars to continue to fuel its growth. “Smoking a cigar is a social act; it’s all about enjoying time with your friends. If a cigar lover knows that he can help out his fellow aficionado by adding a cigar-friendly spot to the map, he’ll take the time to do it.”
Chris is the owner of CigarPlaces.com – an interactive map that allows cigar lovers to find a place to enjoy a cigar, and add cigar bars and cigar-friendly locations that they know of.? Visit the map and search for a city to find cigar-friendly locations near you.