West Seattle businesses: Cigar/tobacco shop for ex-laundromat

(Photo by Katie Meyer for WSB)
Checking city permits, we discovered yet another new business on the way to the southeastern end of the heart of the West Seattle Junction. Between Yummy Teriyaki and the future Bang Bar Restaurant and Lounge, a tobacco shop is in the works for the space best known as a former laundromat. WSB contributor Katie Meyer found the proprietors of what is listed on a city-permit application as “West Seattle Tobacco Company,” though they have not finalized a name yet. They tell her the store will cater to cigar smokers – no smoking on the premises, but they plan to stock “quality” cigars, including Dominican and Brazilian imports. They also plan to sell cigarettes, loose tobacco, and accessories. As you enter the space, they say you will see cigar humidors flanking the entrance, with other tobacco items further inside. The decor is expected to include warm colors, rugs, and even a chandelier. The shop-setup work is still in the very early stages, but they are hoping to be open in about a month and a half.

Mrs. Lovejoy April 15, 2011 (2:54 pm)

oh, come on…where’s the chorus of “WON’T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!” —- oh, that’s right. only for the MMJ.

Peter April 15, 2011 (3:34 pm)

Kool.

johnny Davies April 15, 2011 (3:56 pm)

Hopefully they’ll carry some Snus. Me likey some good Swedish Snus.

Nulu April 15, 2011 (4:08 pm)

“Accessories” that compliment our other new somewhat legal businesses?
–
I hope customers don’t sit in their cars smoking and playing loud music.
–
I would prefer the greedy landlord bring in another more healthy business.
–
Tobacco kills millions.

toddinwestwood April 15, 2011 (4:15 pm)

“WONT SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!”

lenguamor April 15, 2011 (4:33 pm)

I see what you did there. ;)
.
It’ll be nice to have a *real* cigar store in WS.

w.s. maverick April 15, 2011 (5:20 pm)

very nice, I love west seattle for its hippiness

bridge to somewhere April 15, 2011 (5:26 pm)

Really hope this place doesn’t go the water pipe, head shop route. That’s specifically not what West Seattle needs.

Testing HTML April 15, 2011 (5:37 pm)

Nulu: The more healthy business failed, I suspect the landlord is not greedy, they’re probably just trying to make ends meet in a tough business environment.

wsgolfer April 15, 2011 (5:47 pm)

I hope they will carry a good selection of premium pipe tobacco, both tins (McClelland, Dunhill etc) and bulk. It’d be great to find that locally instead of heading down to the tobacconist in the market.

Mr Matt April 15, 2011 (6:22 pm)

I am legitimately surprised at the lack of outrage and umbrage from this comments section…

Most everyone must not be home from work/happy hour yet. :D

WSB April 15, 2011 (6:52 pm)

Friday, traffic tends to slow down by mid-afternoon, though today, like the rest of the week, is still running above average at this hour. Readership, anyway, if not commentership. – TR

BB April 15, 2011 (6:56 pm)

was this Q cleaners?

WSB April 16, 2011 (12:13 am)

BB – sorry, your comment got stuck in the spam filter, so answering belatedly. No, Q Cleaners is a couple doors north (that’s where we usually go). This is a narrow space that was an all-out coin laundromat. Can’t recall when it closed – it housed Liberty Tax Service for a bit post-laundromat. – TR

JD April 15, 2011 (7:12 pm)

why are so many people so scared about a legitimate business? I hope it is edgy and cool. I don’t smoke, but I support people making their own decisions that are theirs to keep, or change.

power to free enterprise.

Kathy V April 15, 2011 (7:29 pm)

How nice. A business in West Seattle promoting oral cancer.

Pam April 15, 2011 (7:53 pm)

Great to have a nice cigar store – the one at Jefferson Square is very limited and with the Tinderbox long closed at Southcenter – welcome!

Mark April 15, 2011 (8:02 pm)

I love how the comments for this new business compare with the comments for the new medical marijuana business posted earlier this week.

lenguamor April 15, 2011 (8:10 pm)

Jesus. I actually picture some of you wearing doublets, breeches and shoes with buckles.
.
Pam, nice to know a fellow S/BOTL in the ‘hood. Right now the nearest real cigar store is Rain City in Georgetown. It’s a good store with terrific staff, but…it’s in Georgetown.

ummm April 15, 2011 (8:41 pm)

How nice, a neighborhood full of misers. Come on people, if you don’t smoke, don’t go there. Simple as that!

JW April 16, 2011 (12:12 am)

I only wish and hope this is a legitimate actual cigar store and not one of those dare i say it Korean type tobacco stores that sells stale 4th rate cigars and tobacco paraphaelia that caters to all kinds especially the MJ paraphanelia and accessory seekers.

w.s. maverick April 16, 2011 (8:09 am)

this is great news, very good area for this with the admiral pub and bbq pit which cater to smokers. better then walking to the mini mart

WSB April 16, 2011 (8:12 am)

WS Mav – this is in The Junction, not Admiral. 4700 block of California, to be specific, and I should add the address if the Yummy Teriyaki/Bang Bar references aren’t enough – TR

austin April 16, 2011 (8:12 am)

If they do carry smoking glass I hope it’s of quality and from the many local artists, not the sweatshop catalog pipes you see in most bodegas. If you’re going to smoke don’t support child slavery in southeast asia by buying shameful junk like that.

dawsonct April 16, 2011 (9:02 am)

Agreed Austin! I have a feeling THOSE are the children toddinwestwood is always reminding us of.

reformed smoker April 16, 2011 (10:05 am)

There’s a smokeshop at Fishermen’s Wharf.
Being smokeless for over ten years,(after smoking for 35), I still
enjoy visiting that smoke shop. The aromas
and such are still enjoyable. Hopefully
this new business will be worthy to the clientele
that smoke. And people who do not smoke–stop
ruining the right of personal choice.
For Pete’s sake it’s America!
That said, I’m ready for the barrage of anti-smokers comments.

Jim April 16, 2011 (4:02 pm)

Its funny to hear how happy people are when a marijuana shops opens in West Seattle. But when a tobacco shop opens, it’s terrible.

Nulu April 16, 2011 (4:39 pm)

Its funny to hear how happy people are when a tobacco shops opens in West Seattle. But when a medical marijuana shop opens, it’s terrible.

Scaryb4Coffee April 18, 2011 (8:16 am)

Selling tobacco is a slippery slope. Pretty soon the hippies will be asking for glass pipes and locally grown and imported ahem, tobacco. And there goes the neighborhood…

Matt April 19, 2011 (12:08 pm)

This place is right next to two bars, right? That sell aclohol, right? That leads to drunk driving and numerous deaths, fights, liver cancer. Not a peep about that though. They’re just cigars…relax.

Sorry, comment time is over.