Smoker Friendly Acquires Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco

The Smoker Friendly chain of retail stores is growing thanks to an acquisition of 54 Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco locations in Indiana.

Today, The Cigarette Store, LLC—the corporation behind Smoker Friendly—closed on its acquisition of Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco from Richmond Master Distributors, Inc. These stores will be rebranded as Smoker Friendly locations.

Update (March 7, 2024) — The original version of this story indicated the acquisition of Richmond Master Distributors, Inc., which included Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco. That is incorrect. Only the 54 locations of Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco were acquired, not Richmond Master Distributors, Inc.

Smoker Friendly is a multi-faceted company that contains traditional cigar stores, tobacco stores, liquor stores, fueling locations and an online store, paylesscigarsandpipes.com. There are 344 Smoker Friendly locations in 13 states as well as independently-owned stores that are part of the Smoker Friendly network. In addition, the company has its own private label brands and operates the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival.

We are very pleased to welcome the Low Bob’s team to the Smoker Friendly family,” said Terry Gallagher Jr., ceo of Smoker Friendly, in a press release. “Pat and Scott Carrico and the Richmond Master team have been longtime friends and leaders in the tobacco outlet channel. We are fortunate to make this acquisition and strengthen our Smoker Friendly footprint in Indiana bringing our store count to 80 in the state.”

Gallagher told halfwheel that like all other Smoker Friendly stores, premium cigars will be available in all 54 of the newly-acquired locations.