The Cigarette Store LLC (TCS) dba Smoker Friendly has acquired the Richmond-Master Distributors Inc. stores dba Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco based out of South Bend, Indiana, Smoker Friendly announced. The acquisition includes 54 stores located across Indiana that will be rebranded as Smoker Friendly stores, expanding the brand’s existing presence in the state.

Smoker Friendly looks forward to greeting Low Bob’s customers with their namesake hospitality and has welcomed the Low Bob’s employees into their organization as a part of the acquisition, the company said via a LinkedIn post.

Patrick A. Carrico, the CEO of Richmond-Master Distributors, said, “The last twenty years Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco built an outstanding company through the dedication of our hard-working team. This transition will take our retail stores to the next level. Smoker Friendly’s growth and innovation in our industry have shown us our company could not be in better hands. We are happy that Smoker Friendly recognizes the strength of our company and its future potential.”

“We are very pleased to welcome the Low Bob’s team to the Smoker Friendly family!” said Smoker Friendly CEO Terry Gallagher Jr. “Pat and Scott Carrico and the Richmond-Master team have been longtime friends and leaders in the tobacco outlet channel. We are fortunate to make this acquisition and strengthen our Smoker Friendly footprint in Indiana, bringing our store count to 80 in the state.”

This is the seventh acquisition by Smoker Friendly in the last four years, bringing the store count to 344 across 13 states. TCS operates a mix of tobacco stores, cigar lounges, liquor stores and fueling locations under the names Smoker Friendly, Tobacco Depot, Smoke ‘N Go, Havana Manor and Gasamat.

In August 2023, NACS Magazine spoke with Smoker Friendly CEO Terry Gallagher Jr. about the role of convenience stores in the community.