Sometimes it is best to just keep your happy memories of how the shop was in better times and move along. Every visit from this point on will likely just add to the heartbreak.
Heavy Sigh
- Thread starter verporchting
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Cosmic I really got the sense the old couple had maybe just bought themselves a retirement gig. They are well past traditional retirement age - I’m thinking mid to late 70s? - and clearly have no understanding of the industry, the products, the local market (which is a huge deal since this little shop is truly an anchor business in the thriving downtown foot traffic area) or the existing customer base.
Seems like they bought a daytime job to stay busy. I might be wrong of course but that’s my impression. For about a year each time I stopped in the old owner and/or an experienced counter staff was present but seemed to be coaching them along. This last time they were alone.
Seems like they bought a daytime job to stay busy. I might be wrong of course but that’s my impression. For about a year each time I stopped in the old owner and/or an experienced counter staff was present but seemed to be coaching them along. This last time they were alone.
One of the ones I love is.... A business will open and be successful and then a few months latter two or three almost identical businesses will open and all of them will close shortly.
I would think most of the long time members do not need a knowledgeable clerk when buying tobacco products in person. I simply want a clerk who can read the cash register and provide the correct change, handle a credit card transaction, and a bag for the product I purchased.
And, cosmic and others are absolutely correct, very few first time business owners understand the degree of commitment, financial and personal, required to insure even the ghost of a chance of success.
And, cosmic and others are absolutely correct, very few first time business owners understand the degree of commitment, financial and personal, required to insure even the ghost of a chance of success.
My mother and her husband did that. They took part of their retirement to buy a meat and three sort of place. They had a hang out where they would set and drink coffee all day and smoke cigarettes. When the business told them that they were about to close, my mom wanted to save their hang out. I threw a fit, but parents... they never listen. They let their friends hang out all day drinking free coffee and smoking till they also lost their money. You can't make money off of free loaders. A coffee house only works if you sell each cup of coffee for at least $7. And, even then, I wouldn't encourage people to hang out, using you restroom that cost you 3X's as much to flush as it does at home.
The only way to make a little money in the restaurant biz is to start with a LOT of money.
Passion + knowledge + integrity = a successful business.
Sad indeed. Same thing happened to Pipes & Cigars in Columbus OH
Boda Pipes in Greenville, SC have employees who are very knowledgeable about pipes and tobacco. In fact, they all smoke pipes and cigars. I've only been in there once and was very impressed. I'm not affiliated with the shop or their employees. Just a satisfied customer. To my knowledge their the only pipe shop in the Greenville area.
If I am going to pay $25 a tin or an extra 50% or more for a cigar at the local shop, it's because I want something now, or that I can't find online. Or maybe to get a suggestion or hear what might be new from the staff or BS and have a smoke and watch a game with other customers (Well, before, and hopefully after the plague). To handle and inspect the available pipes or cigars....
In most places, the only advantage a B&M has is the personal touch and a sense of immediacy. Very few can compete on price or selection with the online shops. So if you're not going all in on service and convenience, seems like you're just waiting for SmokingPipes and the rest to siphon off so much of your revenue that you'll be forced to close.
In most places, the only advantage a B&M has is the personal touch and a sense of immediacy. Very few can compete on price or selection with the online shops. So if you're not going all in on service and convenience, seems like you're just waiting for SmokingPipes and the rest to siphon off so much of your revenue that you'll be forced to close.
There's a JR Cigars outlet near my house that stocked a modest selection of renamed bulk blends (nothing to write home about), pipe supplies, a few pipes (I think it was exclusively Savinelli, and those were hilariously overpriced) but they also carried a great selection of tins: Mac Baren, G&H, SG, Rattray's, and McClelland. And they had a couple of pipe smokers among their generally knowledgeable staff. The tins took up about1/15th of their display space, if that. I would frequently stop in there, smoke a pipe, and peruse the tins. I always bought a tin or two, or some cigars, and just enjoyed hanging out and talking with the staff or other customers. 2 or 3 years ago they packed up all of their pipe tobacco and just stopped carrying it in the store. Consequently, I've only been back there once or twice.
There are some good B&M shops but pretty they mostly cater to cigar smokers. Pipe stock consists of a few Peterson’s and some renamed bulk blends. On the plus side staff has always been good, the cigar selection is great, and the prices are fair. Great for cigars smokers, sucks for pipe smokers. I think pipes are just too small of a niche to support a small business in 2021.
Yes it’s everywhere, sad to say.
Go to Google as an example, pick a state and type in;
California Tobacco Shops
Yes America is literally going to the pot! Pun Intended!
True experts would want far more money than those outfits would be willing to pay them.
I see the odd pipe smoker, one every 5 years or so... I enjoy when people see me smoking in the park, though I don’t do it for attention... -Carry the torch and burn your pipe brighter then
Last edited:
I’ve said many times that I really do like to support nice B&M shops, even if that just means buying a couple ounces of bulk or house blends, matches and pipe cleaners, supplies and such.
I’m okay with not being able to pay double or triple or more for tins for my cellar - I order online for that.
I’m okay not getting expert advice from every person behind the counter in every shop - I know what I want and what I’m seeing within reason bounds.
But it’s just intolerable to have the owners talking out their ass about the products they sell, peddling incorrect rumors about product availability or just making up lies to cover up their lack of knowledge.
Old folks bought the shop and want to do it their way? Okay I guess. I’m not the boss of them, but count me out and I just find it sad to experience the changes from what I’ve gotten used to over the years.
Am I a whiner? Yeah, maybe. I’m okay with that, lol. It’s just the world we’re living in I guess.
Just wish the old folks had picked a different shop to mess up. ?
I’m okay with not being able to pay double or triple or more for tins for my cellar - I order online for that.
I’m okay not getting expert advice from every person behind the counter in every shop - I know what I want and what I’m seeing within reason bounds.
But it’s just intolerable to have the owners talking out their ass about the products they sell, peddling incorrect rumors about product availability or just making up lies to cover up their lack of knowledge.
Old folks bought the shop and want to do it their way? Okay I guess. I’m not the boss of them, but count me out and I just find it sad to experience the changes from what I’ve gotten used to over the years.
Am I a whiner? Yeah, maybe. I’m okay with that, lol. It’s just the world we’re living in I guess.
Just wish the old folks had picked a different shop to mess up. ?
Last edited:
I went to Barclay Rex a couple of years ago, and they are ok.
Is Davidson's closed now?
Never heard of it. Where is/was it? Only pipe shops in manhattan I know of are Barclay's downtown and Davidoff on Madison which carries a small collection of pipes. Nat Sherman gone. Barclay's midtown gone.
Theres a cigar shop in my area with a huge humidor. They only carry an extremely limited pipe tobacco selection relegated to what they can fit behind the counter, but the majority of that is Esoterica blends (when they're available). Go figure....
My bad. Of course I meant Davidoff. How's their tobacco supply? When there a few years ago I had the impression that you could get at least some premium blends (of course, for a premium price!)
completely. I'd rather have a straight answer that is "I don't know" then someone talking out their asses. Imagine how many people take their advice and think man these pipes suck.