Those of us who are located in central Ohio are fortunate to have 2 or 3 B&M choices. We have Smokers haven (excellent knowledge and pipe selection with an OK tobacco selection that is improving), Pipes and Pleasures (with a very good tobacco selection and an OK pipe selection) and even barclays (with an OK tobacco and pipe selection) We also have a few other places in town with limited tobacco selections. I support them as often as I can, especially in the case of smokers haven where I have spent a lot of time hanging out with my friends Ben, Premel, and Bill.
The problem, as others have stated is that due to taxes and other reasons tobacco/tins are much more expensive at local b&ms. At my B&M a tin usually cost between $12-15 for 50g and online the same tin is $7-10. If I am picking up a couple tins then I will support them, but if I am making a big order then it is so much more cost effective to do so online. Plus online there is TONS more selection. None of the local B&M's come anywhere close to the availability found at some of the online retailers.
amen brother..
smokers haven (high st close to osu) - great pipe selection decent tobacco selection. large lounge area and great owners/employees.
pipes and pleasures (whitehall) - decent pipe select (many made by the owner), great tobacco selection, great cigar select and a good lounge area. the owner is great, one employee is very good at tobacco recommendations. the other guy either doesn't know tobacco or doesn't want to commit to making recommendations.
barclays - (upper arlington/dublin) small selection and one location no lounge and the other very small lounge.
timba - (powell) great owner. small but good selection of pipes, tobacco and cigars. upstairs lounge is nice, big screen tv and card tables. front porch even better and lots of friendly guy to bs with.
tinder box (easton) - very high rent area, nice guys always busy, chairs out front to watch the candy go by and next door to an irish pub that lets you smoke down at the end by the cigar shop. good selection cigars, small selection of tins but some hard to find stuff and small pipe selection but again some nice stuff.
tinder box (dublin) - good selection of pipes particularly Pete's you don't often find in stores.. ok tin and cigar selection. owner isn't mr. personality.
governors (formally uptown cigar) great cigar selection, decent pipe and tin selection. an odd mix of folks from college folks to old grumps like me. great place to watch a game and have a smoke. owners are great young guys.