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Friday, November 10, 2006

 

Fwd: Cigar bar planned for downtown Belleville

Stogie bar is planned for cellar

Cigar Inn will be located downtown


News-Democrat

A stogie bar is planned for the former home of the Midtown Revue theater.
The 1930s and 1940s-themed establishment will open in mid-December in the cellar of the Isenhart Tax Service building at 119 W. Main St.
"I'm going to call it the Cigar Inn," said operator Avery Murray, a Fairview Heights resident who said he spent most of his life in Belleville. "It's going to be the coolest place under Main Street."
Murray said the stogie bar will be open in time for lunch seven days a week. It will close at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
He was drawn to the site because of its rustic stone walls and cozy feeling, which Avery said fit the old-time theme he plans for the place.
"We're probably going to have live music a couple of times a month," Murray said. "And when we don't have music we'll show concerts or sporting events on a 100-inch high-definition screen that will drop down in front of the stage."
Murray plans to have food from Nonna's Restaurant available for customers who want something to munch on while they puff on a cigar from the bar's walk-in humidor.
While it caused a stir when the Ravissant Winery announced plans to open near the new Belleville West High School last year, operators of the nearby Governor French Academy spoke in favor of the new establishment at a zoning hearing needed to allow the Cigar Inn to get its liquor license.
"We're in favor of bringing business downtown," school spokesman Paul Seibert said. "I don't think it will be any sort of negative influence in the neighborhood."
Building owner Mike Isenhart said the space has been vacant since July when the Lemming Armada Theater Co. let its lease expire. Prior to the Lemming Armada group, Isenhart and his wife, Terri, operated a theater in the cellar. But they closed it when Terri Isenhart became director of the Fairview Heights Chamber of Commerce and they no longer had time for it.
Contact reporter Scott Wuerz at swuerz@bnd.com or 239-2626.


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Thursday, November 09, 2006

 

Cigar bar planned for downtown Belleville

Stogie bar is planned for cellar

Cigar Inn will be located downtown


News-Democrat

A stogie bar is planned for the former home of the Midtown Revue theater.
The 1930s and 1940s-themed establishment will open in mid-December in the cellar of the Isenhart Tax Service building at 119 W. Main St.
"I'm going to call it the Cigar Inn," said operator Avery Murray, a Fairview Heights resident who said he spent most of his life in Belleville. "It's going to be the coolest place under Main Street."
Murray said the stogie bar will be open in time for lunch seven days a week. It will close at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
He was drawn to the site because of its rustic stone walls and cozy feeling, which Avery said fit the old-time theme he plans for the place.
"We're probably going to have live music a couple of times a month," Murray said. "And when we don't have music we'll show concerts or sporting events on a 100-inch high-definition screen that will drop down in front of the stage."
Murray plans to have food from Nonna's Restaurant available for customers who want something to munch on while they puff on a cigar from the bar's walk-in humidor.
While it caused a stir when the Ravissant Winery announced plans to open near the new Belleville West High School last year, operators of the nearby Governor French Academy spoke in favor of the new establishment at a zoning hearing needed to allow the Cigar Inn to get its liquor license.
"We're in favor of bringing business downtown," school spokesman Paul Seibert said. "I don't think it will be any sort of negative influence in the neighborhood."
Building owner Mike Isenhart said the space has been vacant since July when the Lemming Armada Theater Co. let its lease expire. Prior to the Lemming Armada group, Isenhart and his wife, Terri, operated a theater in the cellar. But they closed it when Terri Isenhart became director of the Fairview Heights Chamber of Commerce and they no longer had time for it.
Contact reporter Scott Wuerz at swuerz@bnd.com or 239-2626.



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