General Manager of the newly remodeled Chaloner & Company and Chaloner’s Cigar House, Laura Wanke gave members a wonderful update on the new facility and what it means for Adrian. “Chaloner’s was the oldest and longest operating retail store in Michigan run by the Chaloner family until about the mid 70’s”, she said. Dave Pilmore and Scott Westfall purchased the business in 2015 from Dwayne and Carol Flint to essentially “revitalize downtown Adrian”.
 
The newly renovated building consists of 3 floors: first level – 300 square foot walk-in humidor with over 1,000 cigars priced from $2.50 to $112.50! Downstairs in their basement, she said, is yet another walk-in humidor that allows them to age a stock of other numerous cigars in house.
 
2nd floor – For 21 year olds and older only. You can smoke cigars on that floor but not cigarettes. It is replete with a full service bar consisting of cocktails, beer (4 local rotating selections from Michigan), wine (70 different selections by the bottle) and soft drinks.
 
3rd floor – On this floor is the Member’s Lounge with 130 lockers serving as individual humidors that "were all sold out within two days of opening", she said, complete with a vintage 1918 Brunswick pool table originally owned by Bob Westfall, Scott’s grandfather which was fully refurbished. Also on this floor is an atrium with waterfall and live plants which is the only area on the floor that is non-smoking.
 
Fifty percent of their clientele, she said, are not cigar smokers. "They just come for the environment and good conversation and enjoy a drink or two". Half of their overall customers, Laura said, are women and the other half men.
 
They are open 7 days a week. On Mondays through Thursdays they are open from 11am to 11pm; Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to midnight; Sundays – from 11am to 7pm. “The owners will never get a return on this project”, she said, “but the goal of this was to bring people in from outside this community so they can see the potential of this community and patronize other businesses and possibly spur them to invest in this community!” They also want to be the best cigar lounge in the country!"
 
The Copper House Coffee Company, their sister company next door, Laura said, is slated to open soon and owned by the Cotton family of Adrian.