There’s a new tobacconist on King Street in Old Town, and it’s right across the street from another tobacconist.
Old Virginia Tobacco Company unsuccessfully tried last year to buy the The Scottish Merchant/John Crouch Tobacconist at 215 King Street. The deal was in the works for months, and ultimately fell through. Instead, Old Virginia Tobacco moved across the street to the vacant storefront at 210 King Street.
“It’s been a longtime dream of ours to have a presence in Old Town, Alexandria,” Brian Ceres, Old Virginia Tobacco’s general manager, told ALXnow. “This is the heart of commerce in colonial Virginia, which has a great, historical tobacco culture.”
The new location has a soft opening last Saturday, October 10. The company plans on conducting a grand opening before the end of the year, which will include the unveiling an upstairs cigar lounge. Due to the pandemic, though, all cigars are handled before purchase by staff wearing gloves and face masks.
Old Virginia Tobacco has also hired staff from The Scottish Merchant/John Crouch Tobacconist, although Ceres says there is room for both companies to co-exist on King Street. A representative of The Scottish Merchant/John Crouch Tobacconist could not be reached for comment.
“We’re all a big family, and there’s room for us to play in the same sandbox,” Ceres said. “This won’t be our biggest location, but it will be our most scenic.”
Old Virginia Tobacco, which has locations in Arlington’s Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall and in Seven Corners, was founded in 1971. The company is known for its lounge atmosphere, leather couches and big screen televisions. The company now has seven locations and is a member of the Tobacconists Association of America, which entitles it to special cigars from brands like Arturo Fuente and Padron.
Old Virginia Tobacco Company is now open Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
