Image by Flickr user Sybren A. Stüvel

Updates at the bottom.

Downtown Charleston's only legal cigar bar, Club Habana, is in danger of losing its lease as well as its smoking exemption.

Situated at 177 Meeting Street above the Tinder Box tobacco store, Club Habana scored the smoking exemption back in 2007 when the City-wide smoking ban was put in pace due to its unique location. Both businesses have done well through tough economic times, but Club Habana's landlord recently decided to terminate the lease.

The Post and Courier reports that Club Habana owner Tom Pompeii is eyeing a new location on Market Street across from Charleston Place and is hoping that Charleston City Council will let him transfer his smoking "grandfather clause" to the new space.

Update March 27: No dice.

Charleston City Council shot down the idea of transferring the exemption to a new location and the clock is ticking on Habana's lease — though the owner may yet get a temporary extension at the current space.