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.

Avatar photo

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.