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Civil Cigar Lounge to Open at Chevy Chase Pavilion

The cigar lounge will be catered by the kitchens of Range, celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio's new restaurant at the newly renovated Chevy Chase Pavilion.

 

The wait for Chevy Chase's new cigar lounge is nearly over: Civil Cigar Lounge will open in the newly renovated Chevy Chase Pavilion on Monday, Jan. 14.

The 93-seat cigar lounge—"featuring plush banquette seating, leather club chairs and intimate nooks and tables"—will be adjacent to celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio's new Range restaurant, and Range will provide a "small plates menu" "[utilizing] all of Range's nine kitchens including the rotisserie, wood hearth, pasta station and bakery" for the lounge, according to a Civil Cigar Lounge statement.

"When we were presented with the opportunity to open the lounge and partner with a restaurant, we wanted to work with chef Bryan Voltaggio," co-owner Matt Krimm said. "The sheer quality and craftsmanship behind his food elevates the overall Civil experience and we look forward to a long partnership with Range," he added.

Not a smoker? Don't worry, the statement advised: "The entire 5,000 square feet is equipped with a state-of-the-art ventilation system that seamlessly filters and replaces 100 percent of the air every two minutes. Advanced ductwork under the floor and an oversize air-handler ensure that both smokers and nonsmokers are at their most comfortable."

And there's more than just cigars and edibles on the menu: "The lounge's showcase feature is an expansive full service bar serving exceptional whiskies, scotches, premium and small batch spirits [and] unique cocktails, as well as an extensive wine selection," the statement added.

Civil Cigar Lounge—the tagline for which is "Drink. Smoke. Eat."—is owned by the proprietors of W. Curtis Draper, the oldest full-service tobacconist in Washington, DC, and the third-oldest in the United States, according to the business.

A retail emporium adjacent to the lounge opened on Dec. 26 and "features a carefully curated selection of cigars from Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, as well as world-class smoking accessories," according to the statement.

There's more: The lounge will offer "125 humidified, personalized cedar cigar lockers that are available for annual lease," and leaseholders receive benefits such as a 10 percent discount on all retail purchases and priority reservations, the statement added.

"For decades we have served messengers, civil servants, executives, ambassadors and occupants of a certain White House, and are thrilled to bring this type of retail retreat to Friendship Heights," co-owner John Anderson added.

Civil Cigar Lounge will be open at 4 p.m. each day, and will close at 2 a.m. Sunday nights through Thursday nights, and at 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

Related Topics: Bryan Voltaggio, Business, Chevy Chase Pavilion, Cigar Lounge, Civil Cigar Lounge, Friendship Heights, Friendship Heights Food Files, Small Business, food and drink, and range

Brad Welch

5:54 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013

I thought indoor smoking was illegal.

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Fred Foo

9:24 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013

MC's no-smoking law has a number of exceptions. This falls into the "tobacco shop" exception.

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Laura L Thornton

9:27 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013

This is actually in DC - just across the border from Chevy Chase, Md - but there are exceptions there, too, for smoking lounges.

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