Peoria Heights, Illinois cigar lounge is for sale. What's next for owner and building?

[JohnS]

Peoria Heights cigar lounge is for sale. What's next for owner and building?

Mike Kramer - Peoria Journal Star

PEORIA HEIGHTS — Ash Cigar Lounge in Peoria Heights is for sale.

The building at 3901 N. Prospect Rd. was home to AA Accounting and Financial Services until 2021. Former AA Accounting owner Bart Cumming said he and the ownership group Blancumming, LLC opened Ash in 2022 because they felt there was a need in the Peoria area for a venue where cigar-lovers could congregate.

“Three years into, it's time to retire,” he added. “I'm hoping we can sell the lounge and keep it going and so the cigar smokers of central Illinois have a destination where they can come and enjoy their cigars in a friendly, warm, and safe environment.”

Bart Cumming , managing partner of the Ash Cigar Lounge at 3901 N. Prospect Road in Peoria Heights, has decided to sell the property and move on to greener pastures, but he hopes the new owner will keep it running as a cigar lounge. MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR

The commercial real estate agency Crexi has listed the property’s price at $450,000. Cumming said he has had potential buyers express interest in the lounge, but so far, none have followed through on touring the property.

While Cumming is retiring as Ash’s majority owner, he is planning to keep busy after the lounge closes. He will return to accounting, working for friends whose current bookkeeper is nearing retirement.

“I want to stay active,” he said. “So, I’m going to help my friends with their business and do their bookkeeping.”

Ash Cigar Lounge at 3901 N. Prospect Road in Peoria Heights is up for sale. MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR

Because he is returning to full-time work, Cumming closed the lounge to public traffic Monday. Ash will be a members-only establishment until the end of the year. Cumming said that if no buyer for the lounge comes forward, he will close it, and the building will revert to its previous use as a rental property.

“Our goal when we started this was to provide a warm, safe, friendly environment where cigar smokers could come and congregate and enjoy each other's company,” he added. “I feel like we've accomplished that, and I just hope that someone will see our vision, choose to pursue it, and continue carrying the ball forward.”

Source: https://eu.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2025/12/18/ash-cigar-lounge-to-close-as-majority-owners-plans-to-retire/87777961007/