Cigar lounge proposed in former downtown Danville, Illinois bus station

[JohnS]

Cigar lounge proposed in former downtown Danville, Illinois bus station

 

By JENNIFER BAILEY - Jan 31, 2025

 

The owners of Cedar and Smoke LLC are seeking a grant to renovate this former bus station at 25 N. Franklin St. in downtown Danville into a cigar lounge. Jennifer Bailey/The News-Gazette

DANVILLE — A local real-estate agent and an attorney are planning to open a new cigar lounge and seeking help from the city in the form of funding from a tax-increment-financing district.

Auston Surprenant and Jared Trigg, principals of Cedar and Smoke LLC, have applied for a grant from the Western Gateway TIF District Redevelopment Incentive Project to renovate a former bus station at 25 N. Franklin St. for their new business.

The grant program allows for reimbursement for improvements to a property. The total to be invested in the Western Gateway TIF District is projected to be $345,000, according to the city resolution.

Cedar and Smoke is requesting a grant for 50 percent reimbursement of TIF-district-eligible renovations to not exceed $50,000, to be awarded after completion of the project.

The Danville City Council’s Public Services Committee recommended approval this week, and the full council will act on the grant application and budget amendment next week.

“It’s going to be basically a high-end smoke lounge and cigar lounge is how they’ve described it,” said Logan Cronk, the city’s community development administrator.

Cronk said he’s hoping Surprenant and Trigg will attend next week’s council meeting where the final vote will take place.

Cronk said the owners’ plans call for the entire building to be gutted and renovated, with about $200,000 to $250,000 to be invested into the space.

Ward 2 Alderman Rick Strebing said the duo have been working on the project for about six months to a year.

Ward 4 Alderwoman Tricia Teague questioned how the business can open with Illinois not allowing indoor smoking.

Cronk said an original location for the business had this issue because it adjoined another structure. He said according to state statute, it is legal to have a cigar shop and lounge at the Franklin Street location.

The grant application states that the project involves painting the exterior of the building; removing and replacing concrete, entrances, curbs, sidewalks, etc., to conform with city code; sealing and striping the parking lot; renovating interior plumbing and HVAC; framing, insulation, ceiling and electrical work; and architectural drawings.

The estimated number of jobs created is listed at 10 or more.

If approved, construction is expected to last from about March to July.

Source: https://www.news-gazette.com/business/entrepreneurs/cigar-lounge-proposed-in-former-downtown-danville-bus-station/article_370a0884-de58-11ef-afda-b304401618ab.html

[JohnInCleveland]

Count me as one of no more than 5 people here who can locate Danville on a map and have actually been there.

Unless Dick Van Dyke is deep undercover…

[JohnS]

Well, this is progressing nicely...

Danville aldermen give green light to downtown cigar lounge

By JENNIFER BAILEY

 

DANVILLE — Cigar aficionados and bourbon club members Jared Trigg and Auston Surprenant were sitting at home during some bad weather, thinking they’d like a place nearby to enjoy a cigar and company — like big cities have.

That’s how they became co-owners of Cedar & Smoke cigar shop, which has since expanded beyond the original concept to include not only a retail cigar shop but possibly a coffee and tea shop on one side, a small sports bar in the middle and a lounge on the far side, as well as a meeting room.

Trigg, a local attorney, and Surprenant, a real estate broker owner, hope to have their cigar shop open downtown by March or early April. They’re in the process of renovating an old downtown bus station into their new business at 25 N. Franklin St.

 

They’ll get some financial help from the city, with council members voting 9-3 this week to approve funding via a Western Gateway Tax Increment Financing District’s redevelopment incentive project grant.

The grant program allows for reimbursement for improvements to a property. The total to be invested in that TIF district is projected to be $345,000, according to the city resolution.

Cedar and Smoke requested a grant for 50 percent reimbursement for renovations to not exceed $50,000, which would be awarded after completion of the project.

Trigg said plans call for an outdoor smoking area on the building’s west side. Video gaming also is a possibility down the road, he said.

Reaction among council members was mixed.

Jon Cooper (Ward 6) said he’s glad they’re opening the business, which Tricia Teague (Ward 4) hopes will lead to fewer complaints that there’s nothing to do in Danville.

Carolyn Wands (Ward 2) said she has an issue with TIF money going to a private business, and noted that the location is just about a block away from a residential area.

Mike Puhr (Ward 5) countered that other downtown businesses — including Rich’s Deluxe Restaurant and Vermilion River Beer Co. — have benefited from TIF grants.

 

Trigg said the business will not sell cigarettes, vapes or other nicotine products but may eventually venture into pipe tobacco.

There will be televisions where patrons can watch sporting events. A covered outdoor beer garden and small stage venue area for music also is planned for the future.

Trigg estimates the business will have at least four employees, who’ll initially work part-time.

Operating hours are still to be determined, with Trigg saying the shop could be open in the morning for customers to get coffee and a premium cigar before they hit the daily grind.

“We want this to be a destination place people would want to come to,” Trigg added.

Source: https://www.news-gazette.com/news/danville-aldermen-give-green-light-to-downtown-cigar-business/article_55cbfb50-dff3-11ef-a957-7335303820c1.html

[JohnnyO]

On 2/2/2025 at 12:41 PM, JohnInCleveland said:

Count me as one of no more than 5 people here who can locate Danville on a map and have actually been there.

Unless Dick Van Dyke is deep undercover…

Been to that rinki-dink museum that has pictures of Jerry and Dick Van Dyke. How could they support a cigar lounge in such a small town is beyond me. John

[Chibearsv]

2 minutes ago, JohnnyO said:

Been to that rinki-dink museum that has pictures of Jerry and Dick Van Dyke. How could they support a cigar lounge in such a small town is beyond me. John

Especially when there’s a high probability that a bunch of locals have a great heated workshop/clubhouse.