Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – Brothers Cigar Lounge is described as a place where “sophistication meets relaxation.”
It’s where you can sip a bourbon “neat” or on the rocks and savor a fine cigar in the comfort of tufted leather chairs with soft music playing in the background.
Owners Chuck Neideffer and Jeremy Mullis will open Brothers Cigar Lounge at 4 p.m. Feb. 25. Located in the rental space area of the Bedford Masonic Lodge on 15th Street in downtown Bedford, the friends share a passion for bourbon and cigars and wanted to bring a new experience to Bedford.
The two men, both members of the Bedford Masonic Lodge No. 14, discovered cigar lounges while on motorcycle trips. Neideffer, who appreciates fine bourbon, and Mullis, a cigar aficionado, mused that Bedford needed a cigar lounge. The idea never quite went away, so after four years and with the blessing of their wives, Tammy Neideffer and Laura Mullis, the two couples began to develop their version of a cigar lounge.
“We want this to be a place to slow down, where you can relax and unwind with a bourbon or a nice cocktail,” Mullis said.
At Brothers Cigar Lounge, conversations won’t be drowned out by loud music or multiple TVs airing a sporting event. Not that there’s anything wrong with the typical bar culture, they said, but their goal is to provide another experience.
In 2023, the US had 3,263 cigar lounges, according to IBISWorld. From 2019 to 2023, the number of cigar lounges increased 3% each year in the United States. Online cigar industry analyst Grand View Research is projecting a 7.4% growth rate in the premium cigar industry from 2024 to 2030.
Since announcing their opening on their social media page, they’ve received an enthusiastic response and also questions about cigar etiquette, is there a dress code and what types of cigars they will carry.
Mullis wants customers to know they don’t have to know a lot about cigars to come to the cigar lounge and there is no dress code. The lounge will carry a variety of cigars at different prices and Mullis is happy to assist customers when choosing a cigar. Only cigars and pipes can be smoked at Brothers; cigarettes and vape pens are prohibited. Brothers will stock 50 different bourbons, including Hard Truth, made in Brown County.
Having a dedicated space for cigar smoking is just one aspect of a cigar lounge. Building community and camaraderie as well as learning about the nuances of different cigars is what it’s really about, said Mullis.
“That’s where the name Brothers comes from,” explained Mullis. “Chuck and I are Masonic brothers. But the idea is that when you come here, we’re all brothers.”
The men stress that Brothers Cigar Lounge is not a men-only establishment. Women and customers who don’t imbibe are always welcome. The cocktail menu was carefully chosen with input from their wives to appeal to all tastes and preferences. Signature cocktails include the Hometown Honey, Limestone Lady and Courthouse Cosmo. The lounge will also carry craft sodas and Heineken 0.0.
A place of history
After shopping locations, they settled on a space on the main level of the lodge. For decades, it served as the office of Ellison Abstract and Titles.
With Neideffer’s skills – he works full time as a carpenter – and design inspiration from the billiard room at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, the space was completely transformed. Old offices were removed and the original hardwood floors were refinished. One of the surprising finds was a glass block wall at the rear of the space that had been covered for years with paneling. Large concrete support columns were wrapped in dark wood laminate.
The result is an atmosphere that is refined yet comfortable and where history meets a touch of modern aesthetic.
Neideffer and Mullis installed an ion generator air purification system to mitigate the tobacco smoke.
Hours of operation
Brothers Cigar Lounge will be open Tuesday through Thursday 4-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 4 p.m. to midnight and Sundays noon-5 p.m. Brothers will serve a limited food menu and is open to adults 21 and older. It has seating for 38 and a separate VIP room can be rented for private gatherings.