By Timothy S. Donahue
Takeaways:
- Casa Fuente, located in the The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip, officially ended operations on October 19, 2025, marking the final day of its lease.
- Owners say the decision not to renew was driven by new mall smoking-policy restrictions, particularly the loss of patio smoking which trimmed seating and revenue.
- Since its opening in 2005, the venue had become a destination for aficionados of the Arturo Fuente cigar brand — offering rare blends and exclusive sizes sold only at the bar.
The Casa Fuente cigar bar in Las Vegas closed its doors on Oct. 19, 2025, ending a 20-year presence inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. Opened in 2005, it became a landmark for premium cigar smokers, especially those by manufactured by Arturo Fuente in the Dominican Republic.
Managing partner Michael Frey cited changes to the ceiling lease arrangements and a tightening of the smoking policy — particularly the discontinuation of patio smoking within the mall environment — as key reasons for the closure.
The patio area, which once could seat around 65 guests, had been a major revenue driver and offered a ‘smoking lounge” experience for the venue. With its removal, the business model reportedly could not sustain the operational costs under the revised lease conditions.
Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr., partner in Casa Fuente, expressed deep regret over the closure, calling the years “some of the happiest” of his life because of meeting patrons from all over the world.
Although no immediate plans to relocate have been announced, the owners have not ruled out the possibility of reopening a similar venue if the right spot becomes available.
For cigar enthusiasts in Las Vegas, the closing signifies the end of an era. Casa Fuente will be remembered not only for its rare humidor selections — including house blends and ultra-limited sizes like BBMF, LBMF, and Chili Pepper from the Fuente Fuente OpusX and ForbiddenX lines — but also for providing a cigar-and-cocktail atmosphere rarely seen in retail lounges.
