Cigar Bar Part of Changing West Bloomfield

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (myFOXDetroit.com) -- Cigars are usually puffed in celebration. Churchill's owner Nash Zaitouna certainly feels like celebrating.

"Very, very excited. More than we expected," said Zaitouna.

First, Nash bought the familiar Churchill's name. Next, he reinvented the concept as a cigar bar with a liquor license.

We asked Nash how the old Churchill's that were located in the malls became the present day Churchill's.

"We bought the concept about eight years ago. We bought the franchise in Michigan, and we kind of changed it up a little bit. They were more like gift shops," Zaitouna said.

His latest location is in a completely renovated plaza at Maple and Orchard Lake.

"West Bloomfield Township wants to make it like more of a downtown district," said Zaitouna.

On a frigid night in January, township officials helped Nash cut the ribbon. They hope more grand openings will follow.

"I've recently met with some developers at the Orchard Mall... and they're looking at renovating that area," said West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste.

In other words, downtown West Bloomfield.

"Residents could actually walk to business locations, park and walk from store to store and have the storefronts right on the edge of the secondary roads that cut through," Ureste said.

Key players so far are Plum Market and Swirlberry and the new restaurant and bar 7, which offers sushi, a gourmet kitchen and a hot nighttime scene 7's fans are raving about.

"I was here last Thursday (at) 10:30. You couldn't walk around. It was packed," said one woman.

The township supervisor could not be happier.

"Within one year, we've had this entire plaza occupied. Last year, it was 78-percent unoccupied," said Ureste.

Back at Churchill's, they still sell pipes, of course, but to those you can add a full service bar stocked with liquor, wine and beer, and a walk in humidor.

Manager Mark says Churchill's new vibe is old school cool. "We wanted to do a throwback actually to the forties and fifties... We have a shoe shine gentleman that comes every evening. We're going to have a straight razor barber, and we play Sinatra and friends," he said.

On grand opening night, guys were puffing away, the TV was on sports, of course, and the fireplace provided a lounge-like feel.

"West Bloomfield needed something like this," said one man.

"We love it. Smoke our cigars, especially with the new law coming," another said.

The smoking ban going into effect May first does not apply to cigar bars.

"As long as ten-percent of our sales are cigars and then we're exempt for that," said Zaitouna.