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Northern Express Weekly is northern Michigan's largest weekly newspaper, Traverse City, distributed in 13 counties throughout the northwestern lower peninsula of Michigan. 

For 31 years Mike Nolan has been selling tobacco in downtown Traverse City. Nolan’s Tobacconists have enjoyed success over the years because Mike understands the business better than most (he is president of the cigar store industry association for 38 stores in Michigan) and he even has been a trendsetter in establishing the first cigar dinner in the country over 20 years ago (documented by Cigar Aficionado, which credits Nolan and restaurateur Jim Milliman for starting the trend).

As Michigan nears a smoking ban in public buildings, Nolan knows he had to do something if he wants to keep his business a success. So he is launching Nolan’s Cigar Lounge.

“Most of the proposed legislation will allow for established tobacco shops to have a lounge for their patrons to smoke,” said Nolan. “It is something I have talked about doing for a long time anyway, but with legislation looming in Michigan, I figured I better get it down now.” . . .\ \ FUNDRAISER UP IN SMOKE?

The popular cigar dinner movement started by Nolan may also be snuffed out with the new legislation. Nolan, along with the Ancient Order of Hibernians started the Father Fred Foundation Annual Cigar Dinner 15 years ago. The dinner accounts for raising 22 percent of the Foundation’s annual operating budget and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to date, and it may be in jeopardy when a smoking ban is passed.

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