A recent ruling by California’s Board of Equalization has determined that mobile cigar lounges are not allowable under their interpretation of the California Cigarette & Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2003. The ruling means that the CigaRV, based in Concord, Calif., will be ceasing operations.
In a story first reported by the Concord Patch, CigaRV’s owner, Jack Grant, was informed of the decision via a newsletter from the BOE in January and that his license was not able to be renewed, effectively forcing him out of business. The BOE explained their ruling by saying that sellers of tobacco and cigarettes must have a retail license for each retail location, and “a ‘mobile location’ does not meet the definition of a retail location.”
Grant launched the CigaRV in 2010 and told the Concord Patch that he’s been “well received” wherever he’s gone. With the ruling putting him out of business, he said he is looking to find an out-of-state buyer for the mobile lounge.