Bon Vie Mobile Cigar Lounge Is A Smoker’s Paradise

Raleigh, NC – Raleigh is becoming a hotspot for unique business ideas. Of these, one that particularly stands out is the Bon Vie Mobile Cigar Lounge, founded by Carolyn Beatty Dumas. The business consists of a bus that serves as a lounge where customers can enjoy cigars with their friends and families. From weddings to business events, Bon Vie is a growing company that is slowly turning into a household name among cigar aficionados.

Bon Vie, which translates to Good Life, launched in November of 2019 and almost immediately generated interests from people around the Triangle area. Dumas has a full-time job working for the city of Raleigh and currently operates the lounge on a part-time basis. She is hopeful that it turns into a full-time job after she retires.

When speaking of what inspired her to start this unique business, Dumas said, “I was looking for something to do once I retire. I was looking into the mobile business because I like to travel. I am an ex-motorcycle rider, which is where I picked up the cigar habit, and my family does a lot with RVs.” Bon Vie was born from the amalgamation of these two ideas.

However, it was not easy starting up the business. Dumas put in a lot of hard work to make sure that the business got off the ground. “The biggest hurdle was finding the vehicle. I wanted it to be very elegant, comfortable, and have the amenities. It took about 3 years to find the vehicle.” Soon after finding the vehicle, the business started with a great deal of success.

“I had booked some things, we had festivals, bridal events, and a whole lot of pop-up shops. We had some companies that wanted me to come out as well. I had a full schedule going into 2020,” Dumas stated. Unfortunately, this was when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The pandemic caused a huge setback for Bon Vie as customers had to cancel their bookings and by April, everyone had canceled.

While many people may have been discouraged by this, Dumas decided to push on through these trying times. She decided to use this time to promote her business. “Since the pandemic, I have been publicizing and doing many pop-ups. I do a lot more partnerships, like for bridal event companies, and am trying to get more into the rental, where a customer can come out and rent the lounge. I bring it and set it up for the clientele to enjoy.” It is always refreshing to see someone who is dedicated to making a business work, even during difficult times.

While the Bon Vie Mobile Cigar Lounge sounds like a party bus service, it is nothing like that. For starters, the bus has numerous amenities, from an air purification system that circulates the smoke out, to a functional bathroom, to a refrigerator and freezer so that customers can store food. These things set the lounge apart from anything that may sound familiar. What is more, the lounge can also be set up with an outside patio area.

Dumas is confident that the business will pick up again soon, and she has every right to be. Simply by looking at how it started, the business is guaranteed to get more customers as the world slowly opens back up again. “I think it has a lot to offer this area,” Dumas said, “this area and the residents are extremely outgoing and always want something new and I think that Bon Vie fits that.”

From her dedication to getting the business started to her promotional methods, Carolyn Beatty Dumas has proven that she is devoted to Bon Vie and will do everything she can to turn it into a successful business. People around the Triangle are getting familiar with the Bon Vie name and she has started to get some bookings to upcoming events, the latest being a Sip and Puff event at Seven Spring Winery in Norlina, NC in March. So, Dumas is about to become an extremely busy person with the certain boom of her fantastically unique business, just around the corner.

For more information on Bon Vie Mobile Cigar Lounge, please visit bonviemobilecigarlounge.com/

All photos submitted.