First Visit to Iwan Ries - Anything I Should Know?

[jonasclark]

I'm visiting a friend in October, will be in milwaukee, Madison and Chicago, and I've finagled a stop at Iwan Ries, a pipe pilgrimage for me. I'm a collector first and a smoker second, but I hope to buy a pipe there-- just something I can say I bought there - and some tobacco. I've looked extensively through the website. Is there anything others who've been there suggest I know ahead of time?
I understand they were one of two buyers of old stock Bekler pipes when CAO moved over to cigars, though I don't know how many they have left. I'm usually more into meerschaum. I see they carry estates, but focus on big briar makes; I'm not sure if the store carries any more esoteric ones, or antique pipes, on occasion. Do the people tend to be friendly if I have questions? And with, I'm told, a massive stock "in the back," if there's something they have that I might want but isn't out, are they able to just access it on demand, or is that a "come back next week" thing-- or is what's "in the back" only very similar to, if not the same as, what's out on display?

 

[ssjones]

I've never been there, take picture please!

 

[judcole]

IR is known for good customer service.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Why not call them in advance and inquire if there are pipes in their inventory that are not on display in the store or online and if they might be able to be show some to you when you visit (just in case it takes time to dig stuff out)?

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I've never made it while in Chicago, but I've had a non-pipe smoking friend stop in a couple times for me.
They've always been gracious and helpful for her - a non-pipe person with a "list of funny names that are supposed to be pipe tobacco".

 

[B.Lew]

Lived just south of Iwan Ries for better part of a decade. You need to know that they have an amazing selection of pipes, cigars and tinned tobacco. Their lounge is beautiful but poorly ventilated. Oh, and parking is going to be pricey if you’re driving. I’d suggest downloading and using SpotHero if you’ll be arriving by car.

 

[pappymac]

Take plenty of money.
I haven't been there on any of my past trips to Chicago but I hear that pipe smokers going there is like being a kid in a candy store. You may wind up buying more than you plan.

 

[Sir Yak]

They are friendly. You’ll be fine—they like pipe people. Feel free to browse as much as you want. They have drawers full of pipes to look through. They’ve got estates. They’ve got a wall full of tins. It will be great. Like most pipe shops—you will be very aromatic after you leave. If you’re going a lot of other places afterwards you’ll be the smelly guy. You will not regret making the effort to go there.

 

[daveinlax]

Take the blue line if you can or park in the millennium ramp. Street parking is good but every block has a parking cop with a tow truck standing by. The city/county tobacco tax is incredibly high. Ask if you want something you don’t see, they only display a fraction of what they have in stock.

 

[pylorns]

They have a massive inventory, drawers and drawers of pipes. I feel like the last time I was there, I had to get a day pass to smoke in the lounge, but the lounge is awesome.

 

[Jbrewer2002]

My friend Arthur is a yearly member of there upstairs lounge. Every time I go to smoke with him the store is already closed. I’ll be back up in a few weeks and hope to find time to visit one day while there open. The upstairs lounge is very nice.

 

[crashthegrey]

Great service there. Tell them what you like in a pipe and they will pull out all kinds of great stuff. They know about all of their pipes. The knowledge in that shop puts most stores to shame.

 

[Green Hill piper]

It's 2023. Wear a bulletproof vest. The miracle mile is really looking different these days. All kidding aside you will be looking at things for hours. Great place helpful folks.

 

[Elric]

I bought a Neerup Rhodesian there during a business trip about 15 years ago when I ended up staying at the Crown Plaza Silversmith across the street. Quite the adventure in terms of the sheer number of smoking instruments they have in stock. Think of it as a pilgrimage to the holy land for pipe smokers and you won't be wrong.

 

[sfduke]

Call and/or email then before with your request. They will have all the inventory ready for your visit.

Make sure enjoy the lounge upstairs afterwards with your purchase One of the best lounges in the US.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Great experience, super nice and knowledgeable people there. I'd argue it is the premier B&M in the country. Word of warning. Park in a valid parking place and if there is a meter, pay it. They'll tow your vehicle before you can get into the door.

 

[AJL67]

Was there a long while back, then it was a nice area and we walked all over the place, now not so much, glad i went back in the day and experienced it so i don't have to bucket list it next time I'm visiting friends outside Chicago.

 

[litup]

I was there this past summer. As everyone else is saying, their customer service is top-notch and super friendly. I was not prepared for how friendly they were. It was like white-glove treatment without the white gloves. They did have an extensive collection of pipes but I was more impressed with their tobacco selection. They had several blends in stock that are routinely sold out everywhere else.

I also paid the $20 for access to the smoking lounge that day after I had finished shopping and browsing through the store and I thoroughly enjoyed that respite from the bustle of the city their lounge provided.

 

[warren]

You should know your budget and stick to it. It's a veritable "candy store", very easy to over do the spending and therefore end up in a seedy, budget motel, eating candy bars and bemoaning your lack of self-control. You've been warned!

 

[Jbrewer2002]

You should know your budget and stick to it. It's a veritable "candy store", very easy to over do the spending and therefore end up in a seedy, budget motel, eating candy bars and bemoaning your lack of self-control. You've been warned!

Are you speaking from experience?