Huntington Quarterly Summer 2022

to relax on the patio even in cooler temperatures because of the fire pits and heaters that keep it cozy. LaFontaine’s Rooftop Lounge offers wine, beer and cocktails. It’s quickly gaining a reputation for its house cocktails and charcuterie boards. It also sells popular menu items such as pretzels and beer cheese dip, bruschetta, local pep peroni rolls, bar snacks and desserts. “The Rooftop Lounge is a great way to extend the business my fa ther started,” Mack said. “It’s one of the few places in the region for the cigar lovers, who can not only enjoy a cigar on the patio but keep their cigars in a humidor right inside the lounge.” Humidors are air-tight contain ers or cabinets that keep cigars at the proper humidity.

“We have a humidor with lock ers,” Mack explained. “Each of those lockers can be rented out. Customers have their own key and can store their own cigars in there.” And cigars aren’t just for men. “It’s amazing to see how many women are smoking cigars,” Mack said. “For many it’s simply some thing different to experience. Maybe it’s their thing, and maybe it’s not. But this is a good space with knowledgeable people to show you the ins and outs. We offer ev erything from flavored cigars to full-bodied higher-end cigars.” In the retail shop downstairs, they not only sell cigars but a broad selection of wine as well. For the Gleason family it has been nice to see some of their customers work their way up to the rooftop.

The Rooftop Lounge wasn’t an overnight development project. It required significant investment to add extra steel beams to reinforce the roof, the installation of an elevator and all the beautification measures that make it a first-rate experience. “It’s nice being up there on a Friday or Saturday night and listen ing to people as they get off the elevator,” Bob Gleason said. “They ‘ooh’ and ‘aah.’ This was John’s idea andMack has really taken the reins. I’m proud of them, and I’m proud of all my kids.”

JEAN HARDIMAN is a Huntington import who has been writing about the great people of West Virginia and the Tri-State area for the past 20 years. She works in the communications office at Marshall University and lives in Huntington with her family.

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