John B. Hayes - Fairfax

[jbbaldwin]

I have to compliment the John B. Hayes folks in northern Virginia. My wife went in yesterday with a short shopping list and came back with exactly what I wanted (including one of those really hard-to-find blends).
I've been shopping there on-and-off for twenty years, and I used to think they were mostly interested in selling cigars, but I've been going every month or so since April and have been really happy with their knowledge and friendliness.
Even though the store's in a mall (I hate malls), and not spacious (it can get crowded, but the customers are pleasant), and there's no lounge, I think they're worth visiting and am glad to buy from them. The mark-up is reasonable and it's nice to talk pipes with people who smoke pipes.
Good service - worth a lot.
(I should get out to Winchester sometime to see their other place, too.)

 

[pipeinhand]

I hang out there quite a bit. King (one of the clerks) is a good friend and also in the CAPS pipe club with me. You should get out to Winchester, they have a HUGE pick of lightly smoked estates there. Send me a PM sometime and we could go out together. Also. check out CAPSCLUB.org, the local pipe club.
Cheers ::

 

[cortezattic]

That must be an impressive place. The name pops up in threads here in the forums from time to time.

 

[jbbaldwin]

Had no idea there was a club around NoVA (besides CORPS, of course, but that's a haul for me) - I have to check that out!

 

[joshwolftree]

I've heard twice now about the winchester shop...guess next payday I'll try and talk the guys into that trip

 

[papipeguy]

I spent a couple of days in Winchester this past September and passed a couple of hours there over 3 days. Good cigar selection. I didn't see much in the way of pipe stuff. I did buy a tin od Dunhill My Mixture 965. The locals were friendly but I was the only pipe smoker there in the afternoons. There were some "estates" but nothing I was interested in. Neat downtown area and worth a visit.

 

[bogglor]

Try some of their Hayes #1, just bought a couple oz of it today and it's quite tasty.

 

[jbbaldwin]

I agree - it's good.
McClelland's Virginia Woods originated as a home-blend at this shop. It's good if you're looking for a nice aro. The room note is nice enough to calm any of the anti-tobacco crowd and the flavor's nice, too. (It's one of the very few aros I like.)

 

[ssjones]

I enjoy my occasional stops at the Fairfax shop as well. King is a great guy and always interesting to talk to. That little shop has the most traffic I've seen for a pipe shop. I can usually find some of my favorite blends as well. The Winchester shop does have a larger selection of estates and the owner is always fun to speak with as well. I wish either was just a tad closer.

 

[martiniman]

I have never walked out of a B&M with what i went there for.
It's always WAY MORE.... :D
Thanks for the heads up here, I travel down there a few times a year.