Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Schuman.
Hi Jamie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Bale and Ash began as part of our retirement plan, built around something we genuinely love—the intentional pause a good cigar demands and the meaningful conversations it naturally creates among people from all walks of life. Cigar lounges have always held a unique place in the culture of connection and relationship-building. There’s something truly special about that.
But as Bale and Ash took shape, it grew to mean even more to us. We envisioned it as a place that not only fosters relationships but also strengthens networking within our community—helping our town continue to grow and thrive.
Choosing our beautiful downtown was very intentional. We wanted to contribute to the momentum already created by the hardworking, established mom-and-pop businesses that make this area so special. Our hope has always been that Bale and Ash’s aesthetic and atmosphere would create a strong first impression for newcomers and help attract even more great businesses to the heart of our downtown.
We are incredibly proud to be here and truly excited about the future of our downtown community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When we opened Bale & Ash, I was nervous. The cigar industry is predominantly male, and I was very new to the cigar world. But I loved the culture—the class, the tradition, and especially the way cigars bring people together.
It’s often assumed that a man owns the lounge, but once vendors realize I’m the proprietor, I’ve received nothing but respect.
I may not have known all the cigar brands or understood just how vast the industry was, but I brought 25 years of sales experience and a strong belief in hospitality. Where I lacked in cigar knowledge, I focused on creating a comfortable place where people felt genuinely welcome.
I also surrounded myself with an amazing team. There is still so much to learn, and I owe a great deal of our success to these guys—their knowledge, loyalty, and dedication to Bale & Ash and our customers.
We started with what I can now laugh about as an embarrassingly small inventory, but our customers stuck with us. They watched our humidor grow and supported us along the way, and that loyalty is something I’ll never forget.
Every decision we make comes back to one thing: how can we better serve the people who believed in us?
We’re still learning, still growing, and I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Bale & Ash is more than a cigar lounge—it’s a place built around hospitality, conversation, and community. We’ve created a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere where seasoned cigar smokers and those completely new to cigars can feel at home.
What sets us apart is how we treat people. Our guests are greeted with a handshake and a smile, and many leave with a quick hug and a “get home safe.” We focus on personal service, quality cigars, unique events, and genuine relationships.
I’m most proud of the community that has grown around Bale & Ash. Our customers aren’t just customers anymore—they’ve become friends, and we want everyone who walks through our doors to feel like they belong here.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t really believe in luck. I give 100% of the credit for where I am today to God. I believe every life experience and every person He placed in my path prepared me for this opportunity.
We had searched for two years for the right building downtown when friends who owned this property happened to ask if we knew anyone interested in buying it. It turned out to be exactly what we needed—standalone, its own parking lot, high ceilings, and the perfect footprint for two patios.
Even the timing felt bigger than us. Just weeks before we approached the city, our mayor had visited his first cigar lounge while on vacation and told his wife, “We need one of these in our town.”
I also believe God put the right people around me. I intentionally built a team with strengths in areas where I’m not as strong, and I’m incredibly grateful for them.
And then there are our customers. We truly have the BEST. They welcome new guests, introduce themselves, and make people feel at home even when I’m not there to do it myself. That tells me we’ve created something much bigger than a business—we’ve created a community.
So no, I don’t call it luck. I call it blessings, timing, great people, and a whole lot of gratitude.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baleashcigarlounge?xtok=ZXY0cjBqYnM5aHZh
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/baleashcigarlounge?xtok=ZXY0cjBqYnM5aHZh
