Living the dream....

[El Presidente]

I chuckled throughout the read. 

This is one guy you just want to see succeed 

 

BUSINESS/ PEOPLE

Security Professional Opens Cigar Lounge on Wheels

 Stephanie Claytor Sep 13, 2021 at 10:31 am

 

 

Marcus Wilson

Parked on the weekends on Memorial Boulevard near Ohio Street and next to the new Coney Funeral Home, the 1911 Rollin Cigar Lounge gives small groups of people a chance to gather and smoke cigars in a comfortable RV.

It’s the brainchild of Marcus Wilson, 45, a private security professional and truck driver, who opened the business in July. The gun enthusiast says the name 1911 is derived from his favorite pistol. The motto for the business is, “Come smoke your head off.”

Wilson originally wanted to open a brick-and-mortar cigar lounge but found the commercial leases and renovations costs too expensive, so he opted for the mobile route. The Lakeland native said it’s a concept he found on YouTube in the spring and thought it was missing in Lakeland.

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“I was like oh my goodness. This is beautiful,” Wilson recalled. “I thought it was the perfect thing because Lakeland has never seen it. Polk County has never seen it.”

When he’s not parked on Memorial Boulevard, he travels to events or attends private bookings including weddings, corporate events, birthdays or game-day parties.1911 Rollin Cigar Lounge is open at its Memorial Boulevard location on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. To book the lounge, contact Wilson at (863) 838-3532 or [email protected].

The inside of his 35-foot Heartland Pioneer travel trailer seats nine people; he also has two chairs for the outside. There are recliner chairs, a full kitchen, a bedroom, and bathroom. He also has an air filtration system inside the RV.

He sells 20 varieties of cigars including the Tatiana and Deadwood brands. Customers are allowed to bring their own libations.

“People come in, they smoke, have a good time. We talk business,” Wilson said. “I think it brings the best out of people. You’re either going to relax or talk business, just like on the golf course.”

He said others purchase cigars and then leave.

Wilson recalls smoking his first cigar when he was 18, but really got into it when he was 23.

“I’ve been smoking now for [more than] 20 years.  The smoothness, the flavor, the smoke smell, the relaxation … It’s just a relaxing, expensive habit,” Wilson said.

He enjoys teaching his customers how to light them.

“I can teach you lighting, cutting … and puffing it … It’s different from cigarette smoking. You don’t inhale it. You just kind of puff it and exhale,” Wilson explained.

His COVID-19 precautions include sanitizing daily and hiring a company to disinfect the RV.

“[They] sanitize, disinfect and protect it. The protection lasts close to 180 days. It’s one of the state-of the-art-type sanitizing. It’s just not spray on and wipe off,” Wilson explained.

[Hammer Smokin']

Polk County? 

Al Bundy represent!

[rcarlson]

Guessing nearly-non-existent ventilation.  Mobile asphyxiation?  

[Meesterjojo]

This is my dream now. I'd make a killing here in this part of Texas. No competition. And not paying rent/being on wheels means if business slows I'm not ruined completely. 

I've seen these online here in Texas, but this is great.

[Chibearsv]

5 minutes ago, rcarlson said:

Guessing nearly-non-existent ventilation.  Mobile asphyxiation?  

70 on the expressway with the windows down. Problem solved!

[El Presidente]

I am only guessing that Ogilvy New York didn't come up with the tag line 

 

The motto for the business is, “Come smoke your head off.”

[BrightonCorgi]

What do you think he charges?  Hourly plus mileage and sales?  Neat idea.  Could get around a lot grey area lounge laws.

[Bill Hayes]

A big screen TV with stereo sound would be good to get extra customers looking to watch sports. Great afternoon with friends watching football or perhaps a paid event like boxing or UFC.

[Hoepssa]

 

Great idea it is.

[Toast & Taste]

Now there is actually a reason to travel to Lakeland. 

 

Big Al 

[Timothy556]

Cool idea. I hope he is successful. It circumvents most issues with a B&M. He should park at football stadiums during tailgating times. 

[Fosgate]

Pretty cool idea. Up until about a year and a half ago there were a lot of used low mile Class A motorcoaches that new were selling for $250-500k but as their owners were selling off, going into retirements homes etc. They were forced to sell in a saturated market. Friend of mine scooped up a cherry 6yr old bus style with slideouts on a Freightliner Gladiator chassis and semi tractor engine. Easily a unit that could last 500k miles or more. Only had 58,k on it and picked it up at a cool $80k. I thought it was one of the smartest buys for a guy that didn't really need a diesel pickup for anything more than to tow a 5th wheel travel trailer. 

Those units have dried up the last year and a half as new ones really are not being built very fast if at all. I've been in quite a few nice units this summer due to large hail in my area. It is surprising what new high end stuff the manufacturers are stuffing in the high end units every year. After seeing this article and being on several winter trips to New Mexico, Arizona, Utah I'm thinking it makes total sense. All the RV parks out there and retirees with little to no convenience nearby let alone a smoke lounge. Pull right into the RV park and there is one onsite is smart thinking. Park a high end Prevost, Foretravel, Country Coach, Newmar, Monaco and people would come smoke a cigar to check out the inside if anything else. Photos online off some of those interiors really do them no justice. I remember the first high end one I walked into was a $700k Monaco and saw the underwriting photos before I went out. Stepping inside I was like..."HOLY SH....!" Maybe the mobile lounge will be lucrative enough for him that he is able to add more to the fleet and eventually add some high end lux models to the fleet.