Granby Cigar Shop Closing its Doors

Source from:  Sunday, August 05, 2007 By SANDRA E. CONSTANTINE sconstantine@repub.com  08/06/2007

Citing a 60 percent downturn in business since last summer, the owner of Cataldo's Fine Cigars on Route 202 has announced he will close his business on Aug. 31. "I am devastated," Paul A. Cataldo said during an interview in the back lounge of his store. The businessman said he feels bad for the older, retired men who gather mornings at his store in the lounge to smoke cigars and talk about the world, but who will now have no place to socialize. Cataldo's lounge contains comfortable chairs and sofas as well as free coffee from a coffeemaker. The room is decorated with posters of such cigar smokers as actors Don Johnston and Kevin Spacey, from the cover of "Cigar Aficionado" magazine. Cataldo said his business started dropping last summer when gasoline prices climbed. He explained that his establishment is a destination location to which people will make a special trip just to buy cigars. Much of his business comes from residents of Belchertown, Ludlow and South Hadley. Business suffered further after the Harmony Chateau closed its restaurant and pub in December, Cataldo said. Many of that establishment's patrons would give him business after noticing the cigar store next to the restaurant and pub, according to Cataldo. The store owner said he was hopeful someone would buy the Chateau Harmony and open a restaurant and pub, improving his sales, but that has not happened. Enditem