Yeh, IMO to all cigar shop owners (and most cigar smokers), pipetobacco all smells like 1Q, and they have no idea... Even if you mention Escudo, or words like latakia and perique, their brains are telling them, "1Q, vanilla goopy goopy."
Brick and Mortar Tobacco Store Pondering
- Thread starter sbk54
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spk54, where are you? You mention Raleigh, and it has one of the regions premier independent pipe and cigar shops, with equal emphasis on pipes, with a truly knowledgeable proprietor at Pipes by George on Hillsborough St. between the NCSU campus and the downtown. There may still be a Tobacconist shop out in Cary, a suburb of Raleigh, but I just don't get out there to shop. I know Tinder Box has moved from Crabtree Valley in Raleigh, but it may have relocated, or another one opened, in Durham at a big shopping center there. East of Raleigh, I think there is still a J&R discount place just of I-95 in Smithfield or thereabouts. And there's a significant TAPS pipe show at the NC State Fairgrounds at Hillsborough and Blue Ridge in April. So if you are in the vicinity of Raleigh, N.C., there's plenty to explore if you have the time and gas. Do you remember the ancient TV show, Car 54, Where Are You? So, spk54, where are YOU? Alternately, since you seem to be easterly, I think there is still a good pipe shop down I-40 in Wilmington, probably a bit of a run for you, but not out of reach. Daughters and Ryan/2 Daughters blending is located in Kenley in Eastern N.C., with a Smithfield mailing address, but I'm not sure they have a shop, and I don't think they deal in pipes.
The place definitely does more cigar business. Usually the cashiers seem a little more engaged, if not more knowledgeable. Plus one of them is an insanely hot young woman who was helping another customer and called the other cashier in from the frozen tundra to ring me up.
There are so few B&M's nationally anymore, I tend to wonder if most of the blends and blending houses we love today would disappear if internet sales are ever banned. I tend to think that for a number of them, the chief retail outlet is online in terms of volume of sales. Haven't been in our local "smokeshop" in a long time to see if they even carry any OTC's these days.
There are 3 tobacconists in the Canadian city I live in. One of those is coasting on history, being an old building and the longest running tobacconist in the city for 100 years or whatever it is. Another one wants to pretend at being gangsters. And the last one is old school legit with hard to find stuff in stock. I go there for cigars whenever I get the itch for a good one.
I find it hard to support any of them through pipe tobacco though. At $50 a tin plus tax for a 50 gram tin, I tend to choke on it. I think all 3 of the shops do their main trade in Cuban cigars. I only completely trust 1 of those shops for selling legit (or properly cared for) Cubans.
Hell, one shop brands itself "Goodfellas" like they are a bunch of gangsters. I never understood that. If anyone is going to slip you a knockoff while charging the legit price, it's going to be a sleazy gangster. It's weird marketing to me. But, I don't like gangsters. I guess some other people do.
Anyway, in Canada, the price of pipe tobacco is ridiculous. Some people here go on about not dodging taxes, etc. but I don't feel that way.
$50 a tin plus tax is insane. There is a world of difference between paying $10 and paying $50 for the same product.
The taxes have the desired effect of discouraging tobacco use here. That's why I have no problem dodging that whenever I can, which unfortunately means not supporting local business. Wish I could support local shops, but it's just unrealistic.
I find it hard to support any of them through pipe tobacco though. At $50 a tin plus tax for a 50 gram tin, I tend to choke on it. I think all 3 of the shops do their main trade in Cuban cigars. I only completely trust 1 of those shops for selling legit (or properly cared for) Cubans.
Hell, one shop brands itself "Goodfellas" like they are a bunch of gangsters. I never understood that. If anyone is going to slip you a knockoff while charging the legit price, it's going to be a sleazy gangster. It's weird marketing to me. But, I don't like gangsters. I guess some other people do.
Anyway, in Canada, the price of pipe tobacco is ridiculous. Some people here go on about not dodging taxes, etc. but I don't feel that way.
$50 a tin plus tax is insane. There is a world of difference between paying $10 and paying $50 for the same product.
The taxes have the desired effect of discouraging tobacco use here. That's why I have no problem dodging that whenever I can, which unfortunately means not supporting local business. Wish I could support local shops, but it's just unrealistic.
Back on topic, whenever I rode through North Carolina I would make an effort to stop at the JR Cigars store in search of pipe tobacco. I recall buying lots of Sam Gawith and Rattray's for ungodly low prices (circa 2006) and also buying pounds of MacBaren VA#1 in bulk.
I'm fortunate that my local college town has a great B&M (Blacksburg Pipe & Tobacco), and Milan Brothers in Roanoke isn't far away either. I've been a loyal customer to both since 1996.
I'm fortunate that my local college town has a great B&M (Blacksburg Pipe & Tobacco), and Milan Brothers in Roanoke isn't far away either. I've been a loyal customer to both since 1996.
Our local Tinder Box is probably 70% cigars, 20% wine and 10% tobacco. They have [/b]one tin of tobacco, Tinder Box Reserve 1928, produced by McClelland. They had two tins, I bought one. Everytime I go in there the same tin sits on shelf behind the counter. I should buy it and free up some shelf space. :
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At 75mph, the closest B&M is 1 1/2 hours away from me yet there are over 30 weed shops within 30 mins. I know, my wife has Parkinson's and pot /CBD is the only thing that will control. The tremors and help her get thru the day. Believe me, we tried EVERYTHING before pot. People know how "straight" I am so I really get some looks when I buy the stuff for her.
I am very worried that the new regulations will shut down many online sales but knowing human nature as I do, if there is any demand, new B&M will spring up to fill the void. As with anything, when there is a demand, there is a supplier, at what cost is another question all together.
I am very worried that the new regulations will shut down many online sales but knowing human nature as I do, if there is any demand, new B&M will spring up to fill the void. As with anything, when there is a demand, there is a supplier, at what cost is another question all together.
The declining amount of smokers, the anti smoking sentiment and most of all, large internet retailers are what have caused the demise of pipe and cigar shops. And to some extent, the failure of the B&M's to adapt to the changing times.
Were I to get really angry at my money and open a pipe and cigar store, I would make sure it had a very nice, comfortable lounge where Customers could smoke. I'd either have a liquor license or rent lockers where members could store their drinks. As there are less and less places that allow smoking (which is the case in most cities), this type of shop could become the refuge for people like us and travelers who are looking for a place to smoke. I can't speak for everyone but I know when I'm traveling, I'll gladly spend a few more dollars per drink if I have a comfortable place I can sit and smoke while having that drink. Too many B&M's have a fast food mentality while I think what they need to continue to survive and prosper is a fine dining mentality.
As Cosmic mentioned, in general, pipe smokers seem to be very tight with their money. Reminds me a lot of pool players. And look at the parallel there. Pool halls have also been closing all over the country. Smart business people are going to maintain or open a business that sells to people who have and like to spend their money, not to cater to people who pinch pennies.
Were I to get really angry at my money and open a pipe and cigar store, I would make sure it had a very nice, comfortable lounge where Customers could smoke. I'd either have a liquor license or rent lockers where members could store their drinks. As there are less and less places that allow smoking (which is the case in most cities), this type of shop could become the refuge for people like us and travelers who are looking for a place to smoke. I can't speak for everyone but I know when I'm traveling, I'll gladly spend a few more dollars per drink if I have a comfortable place I can sit and smoke while having that drink. Too many B&M's have a fast food mentality while I think what they need to continue to survive and prosper is a fine dining mentality.
As Cosmic mentioned, in general, pipe smokers seem to be very tight with their money. Reminds me a lot of pool players. And look at the parallel there. Pool halls have also been closing all over the country. Smart business people are going to maintain or open a business that sells to people who have and like to spend their money, not to cater to people who pinch pennies.
Thanks for the info. I live on the Pungo River at the East end of Beaufort County. To be fair neither of the two towns within 15 miles (Bath and Belhaven) have populations of over 1000. But I expect more out of Greenville which is about an hours drive East of me. I'm glad there are some B&M stores left in a few cities in NC. It's strange since NC was basically built on tobacco and we do have Cornell and Diehl and the Dr. Grabow factory out west.
Pipe and Pint has some tobacco in Greenville, also a nice selection of wine and coffee. Nice guys running it as well. Pipes by George is a nice place, decent (but not great) selection of tobacco and an above average selection of pipes. Not much of a smoking lounge, a small round table with 3 or 4 chairs around it in the middle of the shop. The guys running it are great guys. Asheville has a couple of decent shops.
Look on the bright side, if the restrictions ever start to effect the supply, I'm sure between Jim, Ash and a few others here we will all survive.
sbk54, Cornell and Diehl used to be in Morganton, N.C., but was very low profile; when I was there about something else, the locals had no idea what I was talking about when I asked about them. However, they were bought by the owner of Smokingpipes.com which now does its blends, and they're located in South Caroline in the vicinity of Myrtle Beach. But you're right about Dr. Grabow in Sparta, N.C., up near the Virginia line, perhaps the largest remaining briar pipe factory in the U.S.
<p>How about some tax free tobacco?<br />
One bonus I’ve gotten from the cigar shops is the cured leaf tobacco that Acid uses to pack their cigars with.<br />
It’s not a fancy blend, but then it isn’t gooped up with perfumes and flavorings, either.<br />
Mostly they don’t charge me anything if I just ask for a few of their empty cigar boxes. They don’t even realize that they’re giving away pounds of free tobacco!
One bonus I’ve gotten from the cigar shops is the cured leaf tobacco that Acid uses to pack their cigars with.<br />
It’s not a fancy blend, but then it isn’t gooped up with perfumes and flavorings, either.<br />
Mostly they don’t charge me anything if I just ask for a few of their empty cigar boxes. They don’t even realize that they’re giving away pounds of free tobacco!
BTW, if somebody insists on having their blends, they could mix this with them, cutting strong flavored tobaccos into something more palatable.
Unless you want to give the government money, of course?
Unless you want to give the government money, of course?
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