The Vintage purchases Whiskgars Cigar & Co. in Gastonia, will ultimately rebrand
The Vintage Whiskey and Cigar Bar in Charlotte will soon be expanding to Gastonia with the purchase of Whiskgars Cigar & Co.
For now, operations at Whiskgars won’t change under the new ownership by Menagerie Hospitality Group — including the live local music offered weekly — but the space will eventually rebrand to become The Vintage Gastonia.
“The location emulates everything that The Vintage stands for, from the luxurious leather couches and chairs to the 36-foot granite bar. We felt a calling to continue the previous owner, Jacob Hibbert’s dream and honor all the work and effort he has put in to make a place for the whiskey and cigar community,” said Dan Weiss, president of Menagerie Hospitality Group.
Both lounges have membership components, with private memberships starting at $250 for the annual Attaché membership. Reciprocating membership benefits will be in place.
The space: Whiskgars was founded in 2021 in a 90-year-old building with a dual lounge layout: a 3,000 square-foot non-smoking cocktail bar area and a private 2,500 square-foot smoking lounge with a VIP room, walk-in humidor and lockers. Separate HVAC units were installed to cut down smoke migration.
A back patio will be installed so members can listen to live performances at the Rotary Centennial Pavilion.
The food and drinks: The Gastonia lounge serves craft cocktails and elevated shareables including charcuterie boards and seasonal tapas plates. In the future, the food menu may expand.
“I believe the cigar and whiskey experience has brought tremendous growth to the downtown area and Gastonia as a whole,” said Jacob Hibberts, the previous owner of Whiskgars. “I truly appreciate all of the support from our members and the greater Gaston community, and I am confident that Dan Weiss and his team are more than capable of continuing and improving Whiskgars going forward!”
Whiskgars Cigar & Co.
Location: 190 W Main Ave., Gastonia, NC 28052
Instagram: @whiskgars_cigars
The Vintage Whiskey and Cigar Bar
Location: 215 E Worthington Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203
Instagram: @thevintageclt
