No Cigaragua in Rotterdam for now. In the last few weeks, we mentioned a possible move from Van Dalen Cigars in Rotterdam (1) (2). On the huge new location at Westblaak, over 700 square meters, there would be room for the second Cigaragua too. But even though the calculations were positive and shop owner Sasja van Horssen was ready to pull the trigger, the project has been put on ice.

The reason for that is the landlord of the current Van Dalen Cigars location, at the Pannekoekstraat. Even though he already told Van Horssen that the rent price would go up considerably as soon as the current contract runs out, he’s now making unreasonable demands for Van Horssen to terminate the current contract, making the move too expensive to be even considered.

But Van Horssen said that this is just a temporary setback and that his dreams of a huge shop in Rotterdam, including a Cigaragua, are far from over.

Van Dalen Cigars

Van Horssen, the third generation in tobacco, has had a shop in Den Bosch for over a decade. In 2011 he bought one of the most renowned tobacco shops in the country of The Netherlands. That shop, Van Dalen Cigars, was one of the first shops to have a walk-in humidor and had a great reputation. The building was sold to another party so the shop relocated about 300 meters away. It went from Meent to the Pannekoekstraat in Rotterdam.

From day one the new location was a great success. Quite soon the shop became too small. After a renovation two years ago the non-cigar-related tobacco selection got smaller. The lounge moved more into the store so the humidor could become bigger but space is still an issue. Van Horssen was looking to relocate the store to a 753 square meter building. The building has an even better location within walking distance from the current shop. But now with the landlord making unreasonable demands, the plans are put on ice.