Briarworks Gets New Digs

James Foster, CST
Briarworks Logo
The fact that Briarworks has moved everything to a new location is nothing new. What is new though is the fact that they have opened up a storefront to have customers stop by and buy a pipe, or sit down in the lounge and smoke a cigar from their humidor. I had a chance to sit down with Pete Prevost, President of Briarworks and talk about the new location and pick his brain after they celebrated their grand opening at their new location just outside of Nashville, in the quaint town of Columbia, TN.

How long has this move been planned?
The move has been planned for a little over a year. I started exploring the idea of moving BriarWorks down to Columbia in the Summer of 2017.
What was the thought process of moving?
There were several different reasons, but our main motivation was to get into a building and an area where we could create a really cool destination. Nashville has blown up and become costly. The building and area we were in were not ideal. Columbia has a lot going on and the future seems bright. It’s nice being in a smaller city where everyone has embraced us and there is a lot of excitement about the business we have brought to downtown Columbia.
Have you moved everything into the new building?
Yes! It was a lot of work and still is, but we are completely in the new building.
Briarworks
How does this move benefit you?
It’s an opportunity to be in a building that gives us plenty of space to grow, saves us a little money, and allows us to stand out as one of the really cool local businesses helping the city grow. Plus, it’s a really cool building and location. Oh, and I should mention that there is a great local brewery adjacent to our building so that doesn’t hurt!
Briarworks
How does this move benefit your customers?
Most of our customers up to this point are retailers who carry our pipes, or people that order pipes on our website. This gives our customers a chance to come and see the factory where their pipes are made. Plus, now that we have a retail store we are meeting new customers every day.
Briarworks
How big is the new space?
The lounge and store are about 2000 square feet, and the factory is about 6500 square feet. Plenty of room to host some great events soon!
What can we expect at the lounge?
A great open atmosphere to relax and smoke, a great selection of pipes that are made in the same building, a wide range of pipe tobaccos and cigars. We are working on getting our beer permit to have a selection of draft beer. Hopefully soon, we will start offering tours of the factory and begin hosting events inside our building.
Briarworks
What sort of Cigars can we expect? How large is the humidor?
Right now we have a really nice selection that focuses on boutique brands that we all love, We carry Tatuaje, Crowned Heads, Illusione, Caldwell, and Atsiniki. We also recently became a Fuente retailer as well. We are just getting started and have plans to continue adding new brands to the humidor. The humidor is probably 11×11 foot room, but we have plenty of room for more cigars in there.
You’ll obviously have C&D there, but what else can we expect to see on the shelves? Any Bulk tobaccos?
We are continuing to add to the pipe tobacco selection. We have C&D, Planta, Stokkebye, Gawith & Hoggarth, and Lane bulks. We has several different brands represented with our tins selection, but some of them are Rattray’s, McConnell, Wessex, Orlik, Capstan, Erinmore, Dunhill, Gawith & Hoggarth, Presbyterian, C&D, and of course our BriarWorks blends that C&D produces.
Briarworks
Can a pipe smoker come and pick up a pipe right from the store now? Watch their pipe be made?
Absolutely! We love that. We are still pretty small, but I would like to see us be able to finish out pipes while customers wait someday.
How many employees does Briarworks have today?
There are 7 of us at BriarWorks. We have been covering hours in the Lounge as well. It has been busy!
Briarworks
How many pipes are you making a year now?
We are making about 6-7000 pipes a year between BriarWorks, Moonshine, and a couple of private label brands that we produce.
Any new pipes coming out or that have come out your particularly pleased about?
We just released a really cool Oom Paul that has a nice big bowl. We are working on a few other things, but I’m not quite ready to announce them just yet! Stay tuned.
What is Todd doing these days?
Todd is still in Nashville, and is focusing on his high-grade handmade pipes again!
Briarworks
Anything else we should know?
We want everyone to come and visit us! We did this to continue building direct relationships with our customers. We want to see the pipe community continue to thrive and grow. If you haven’t tried our pipes yet, give us a chance. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @Briarworks. Check us out online at Briarworksusa.com. Or come visit us at 511 N. Main St. Columbia TN 38401.
Wrapping up I want to thank Pete for finally getting time to sit down and chat with me and sharing some great pictures of the new space. I’m certain many will add Briarworks to their list of places to pipe pilgrimage.

James Foster goes by the online handle of Pylorns in the forums, and he is the creator of an app for keeping track of your tobacco cellar inventory called The Pipe Tool, serves as the President of the Austin Pipe Club and is a Certified Tobacconist.



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