Creating and Operating a Smoking Club

[djs134]

With the present opinion climate leaning against indoor smoking, I've been mulling over how one might start and operate a private smoking club. Pennsylvania is most likely going to pass an indoor smoking law in the next year or so and this may be the only way to keep a place to gather, socialize and share a cigar.

Anyone have any experience in this? I'm talking about creating a legally recognized non-profit club that could take advantage of any exemptions that allow for such things. I realize that it depends upon the way that the law is written, but there have to be basics. Such as how do you create a non-profit club? What are the rules as far as collecting dues and the limits to the amount that can be charged? For those of you who are members of one, what amenities are necessities and what are those that should be offered? I'll be looking into the PA laws regarding alcohol.

Just thought I'd tap into the group here.

[WhiteLightning]

That's some info I would like to know also. Not sure if NY is considering passing the same law.

[jwintosh]

that would be quite the venture,,, looking forward to following along....

[Saully]

The "non-profit" aspect of it would probably be regulated by the Internal Revenue Service. I'd go to their website <www.irs.gov> and search -- or just Google "nonprofit club" or similar. So far as what PA would permit you'd have to see what their law excluded from prohibition.

[Havana Joe]

I think it would be a great idea! I've been thinking about the same thing, or should I say dreaming about the same thing. :sleep:

[Wasch_24]

Paging Tazman and Roscoe.

They are active in the Metropolitan Cigar Society/Club in NJ.

[Saully]

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p557.pdf

See 501(c)7) Social and Recreational clubs. You'd probably have to apply to the state Corporations department (or whatever it's called) to incorporate as a non-profit.

[roscoe]

Some of you have mail!

[smokem94]

When Colorado passed their fucked up anti smoking law....it exempted existing cigar bars. That is a bar that allowed smoking and could prove at least 5% of their annual revenue came from the sale of cigars.
I would open something now with a liquor license, sell cigars, and hope for the best.

Fucking liberal do gooders...mind your own fucking business!!

[jmatkins]

When Colorado passed their fucked up anti smoking law....it exempted existing cigar bars. That is a bar that allowed smoking and could prove at least 5% of their annual revenue came from the sale of cigars.
I would open something now with a liquor license, sell cigars, and hope for the best.

Fucking liberal do gooders...mind your own fucking business!!

Yea cigar bars in Mass have to keep up a 51 to 49 percent sale of cigars to keep there permit.

[roscoe]

If some of you have not seen it yet, this is what we did in NJ

http://www.metrocigar.com

We are not a bar, we are not a lounge, we are a private, members only, club. We have no employees and no licenses. We opened our 4200 sq ft facility in June of 06 and have over 150 members. All members have 24/7 access to the club.

Roscoe
The Metropolitan Society, LLC

[gbpacker66]

If some of you have not seen it yet, this is what we did in NJ

http://www.metrocigar.com

We are not a bar, we are not a lounge, we are a private, members only, club. We have no employees and no licenses. We opened our 4200 sq ft facility in June of 06 and have over 150 members. All members have 24/7 access to the club.

Roscoe
The Metropolitan Society, LLC

Looks like an awesome club!

[jmatkins]

If some of you have not seen it yet, this is what we did in NJ

http://www.metrocigar.com

We are not a bar, we are not a lounge, we are a private, members only, club. We have no employees and no licenses. We opened our 4200 sq ft facility in June of 06 and have over 150 members. All members have 24/7 access to the club.

Roscoe
The Metropolitan Society, LLC

That does look like a great place.

[cvm4]

I'm sold! But the drive is just too long...

[CWS]

When they were trying to pass the mega tax last year in CA we had the place picked out, set up LLC paperwork, picked out the furniture, located a pool table and were jsut waiting because all our local b&M's said they were going to close. We were forming as a club, byob. We informally met in a conference room at one of the guys manufacturing plant that gave us the idea. Very happy it didnt pass but I have to wonder how it would have gone