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2012 SESSION
WHEREAS, in 2012 Milan Tobacconists of Roanoke will celebrate 100 years of providing its customers with fine tobacco products and accessories; and
WHEREAS, in 1912 Joe H. Milan, Sr., an immigrant from Lebanon, was on his way to California to make a new life for himself when he stopped in Roanoke to visit an aunt; and
WHEREAS, Joe Milan, Sr., decided to stay in the Roanoke Valley, and, with a $100 loan from his aunt, opened a store selling tobacco products and magazines to local residents, which became Milan Tobacconists; and
WHEREAS, a hard-working entrepreneur, Joe Milan, Sr., saw Milan Tobacconists grow and prosper, necessitating the expansion of the shop, and his brother, A.H. Milan, became a business partner; and
WHEREAS, following the death of A.H. Milan in 1938, Joe Milan, Sr., continued to operate Milan Tobacconists as sole proprietor with the assistance of his sons, who helped out after school and on weekends; and
WHEREAS, Milan Tobacconists focused on providing its customers with the best tobacco products and outstanding customer service and also operated a lunch counter and fountain for many years; and
WHEREAS, eventually Joe H. Milan, Jr., took over the family business and, with younger brothers Herbie and Ellis, who also joined the company, continued to operate Milan Tobacconists with the same focus on quality and service as his father and uncle had; and
WHEREAS, in 1956 Milan Tobacconists relocated to a new 2,400 square-foot building on Jefferson Street to better accommodate its expanding business as its reputation as a purveyor of quality tobacco products grew; and
WHEREAS, in 1994 the Milan family, which had made numerous contributions to the local business community as owners of Milan Tobacconists, decided to retire from the family business; and
WHEREAS, after careful consideration for their customers and an eye toward preserving the family’s decades of hard work at Milan Tobacconists, the Milan family selected Don and Myriam Roy as the new owners; and
WHEREAS, Don Roy, who previously owned a tobacco shop in Florida and had three decades of experience in retail management, expanded the selection and quality of the store’s inventory, resulting in increased revenues while also maintaining Milan Tobacconists’ reputation as a supplier of quality tobacco products and accoutrements; and
WHEREAS, when it came time for Don and Miriam Roy to retire, they decided to keep Milan Tobacconists in the family, selecting David and Renée Meyer, their son-in-law and daughter, as the new owners; and
WHEREAS, David and Renée Meyer relocated the shop to the historic 309 South Jefferson Building and added mail order and website services to expand its customer base beyond the Roanoke Valley and position Milan Tobacconists for continued success in a new century; and
WHEREAS, a proud family-owned business, Milan Tobacconists looks forward to continuing to provide its customers with the best tobacco products and services in the future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Milan Tobacconists on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Milan Tobacconists as an expression of the General Assembly’s congratulations and admiration for the company’s many contributions to the Roanoke Valley.