Returning to his home city of Easton with newfound knowledge and passion, Larry Holmes Jr., the son of former professional boxing legend Larry Holmes, is taking a big swing with the opening of Legends Cigar Bar.
“We took different concepts from other cigar lounges, other restaurants, other hotels, and really just tried to mimic what they were doing and put our own spin to it,” Holmes Jr. said.
The space features an elongated copper bar — well-populated by a crowd of older white men mid-week — across from booth seating, with a spacious, comfortable members-only lounge in the back. A diverse selection of cigars are illuminated in a glass display; smoke from patrons is quickly dissipated by quiet, subtle fans hanging from the ceiling.
Anyone can enjoy the front bar, but customers can pay $15 on weekdays and $20 on weekends to enjoy the members’ lounge. Becoming a full-time member — priced at $2,500 per year — has its special perks, including a personal locker, exclusive event access and merch.
Raj Mathur, the contractor for the project, does not smoke but frequents the bar for Holmes Jr. and the “overall vibes,” and he said he is considering membership.
“It’s definitely a chill vibe, and you meet some really crazy important people you would never expect to be here,” he said, mentioning how famous boxers were present for the bar’s opening weekend.
Newcomer Heath Buckby traveled 30 minutes to find a place to smoke cigars in the cold weather and said the space was “classier” than he’s used to.
“Cigar prices are fair for the environment,” he said. “It’s a nice, nice place.”
Ry, the bar manager who declined to give his last name, has been with Legends since its soft openings and is very passionate about the drink menu he created. He called the job his “dream gig.”
“I just have fun here,” he said.
Holmes, who returned to the Lehigh Valley in 2019, said he was inspired by his travels and heritage in the creation of Legends.
“Maybe I can do some of the things that I’ve always wanted to do right here at home, and bring the things I’ve learned from my experiences around the world, and Connecticut, and wherever my travels took me back here to Easton,” he said.
Holmes uses memorabilia to decorate the space, telling a story throughout the lounge. The posters in the exclusive members’ space prominently display Larry Holmes Sr.’s accomplishments as a boxer, a personal touch of the historical inspiration of the bar.
“If you do set a goal, and you go after it wholeheartedly, and you believe in it, and you have proper support and a team around you, it’s very attainable,” Holmes Jr. said. “It is very achievable.”
