J. Merrill Cigar Lounge ready to open in Roanoke after fire

A one-alarm fire at The 206 food hall on Oak Street in Roanoke Sept. 12 delayed the opening of J. Merrill Cigar Lounge.

The details

Owner Lee Youngblood said they will have a soft opening during the first week in January 2025. Amenities include:

• A members-only lounge with a humidor and personal lockers
• Public access lounge
• Outdoor patio
• Mixology bar

General Manager Marcus Evans said they’ve installed smoke eater air purifiers that can clean up to 1,100 cubic feet of air per minute.

A closer look

Youngblood and Evans helped install the initial set of 54 lockers members can rent out for an annual fee.

“We’ve already had a few members come in and request a certain locker because it was their jersey number of a sport they played in high school or college,” Youngblood said. “For others, the locker number they want might be their lucky number."

• Soft opening first week of January 2025; Grand opening Jan. 10 & 11
• 206 N. Oak St., Ste. 120, Roanoke
• www.jmerrillcigar.com