My discussion with a B&M owner.

[bootlegbonvivant]

I thought about that as well, mjtannen. I visit plenty of websites and have gotten great service from them all so far, however, knowing that there are some B&M locations around, I try to visit them from time to time and support their business. Neither of the places I frequent have websites that I know of. Around here, a lot of their business comes from golfers and word of mouth.
If I were to go all out and open a B&M, I'd definitely have an ecommerce site of some sort as well. Just seems like good business sense to make use of technology where it'll work the best.

 

[jimbo]

theotherspace,
It must be tough to be a pipe smoking college student today.
OF COURSE you are encouraging people to smoke... PIPES. Not cigarettes. Not that "funny" stuff. Good tobacco in a good pipe. I don't know if the brain-washed massed can be persuaded that the health aspects are statistically insignificant, but they are. (Do your research on this and be able to debate it with others as I did.) The cameraderie of such a group would outweigh anything negative.
Good luck!

 

[jsharp]

I say go for it. Buying off the internet is good, but there is something special about a local store with good service.

 

[shillelagh3]

@bootlegbonvivant: Where are you exactly? I read NE of Atlanta. I went to college up at North Georgia.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

I live in Flowery Branch, just south of Gainesville. If I can get this pipe club going, it'll probably be based somewhere around here.

 

[nmbigfoot02]

Sorry to resurrect this one from a 2 month grave, but I thought this might help you bootleg.
Pipe Clubs
Not sure if the info is still valid seeing as how they still list Royal Cigar as being in business. I was under the impression that it had been closed for some time. I do know that Smitty's in Gainesville is still open.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

Thanks bigfoot. I actually frequent Smiitty's and he's a great fella. I will have to head up there and talk with him about the possibilities. Last time I talked with him about a club, there was none around him. Could be a great thing for his business, but like some others have stated in other postings, I also don't want the pipe club to be store related or concentrated.
Are you in the Gainesville area?

 

[nmbigfoot02]

Sort of. Gainesville is just a few miles from me (Flowery Branch area.)
I'm also spoken with Mr. Clark. Very nice guy.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

That's awesome! We definitely should meet up for a smoke and conversation. I'm in Flowery Branch as well, more on the Braselton side.

 

[hauntedmyst]

That is awesome news. Even with general clean up, you gain a lot of experience.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

Thanks hauntedmyst. So far, I've gotten about 20+ pipe restorations under my belt. I have a few that require stem replacements and for those, I'm using pre-made stems, but definitely learning a lot about shaping them and how they flow with the pipe.
Eventually, I plan on making stems from scratch with delrin tenons.

 

[lyst36]

Still keeping an eye out for that "Atlanta" area pipe club. I'm in Decatur so I'm not too far from you guys.

 

[nmbigfoot02]

That's awesome! We definitely should meet up for a smoke and conversation. I'm in Flowery Branch as well, more on the Braselton side.

Sounds like right around the corner. It would be nice if we could find a gathering place that is pipe/cigar friendly. I know some bars don't like for people to smoke pipes/cigars but they will allow cigarettes. :|

Still keeping an eye out for that "Atlanta" area pipe club. I'm in Decatur so I'm not too far from you guys.

Decatur used to have several bars near Agnes Scott that I remember being smoke friendly. Twain's and Brickstore used to be our favorites when my wife and I were dating.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

Thanks guys, I promise to make more headway on a local club. Been a lot going on here lately, but that's just my excuse, lol.
I'm sure we can find a decent place to set up shop for a club, or even just a get together smoke.

 

[capnbellamy]

My B&M is in the same positon. The owners (a wonderfully sweet old couple) apparently base alot of their sales recomendations on what I say about the baccy when I've smoked it abit (possibly some ego involved there). They're also doing well with the student crowd; something I'm defenitely going to take credit for, being one of 3 pipe smokers in the town :P A local club, or private smokers club (to get round our current ban) is never far from my mind. But here, in the UK, I'm not particularly sure it would actually take off!

 

[cyndi]

For the FB folks - does anyone know if Crossroads (the little bar and grill near the Publix on Spouts Springs Rd) is smoke friendly? They had a couple of guys out there playing guitar on Saturday and the patio looked real cozy. Another place to check out is the liquor store on the corner of Spouts Springs and Hog Mtn that has the restaurant attached. It just changed names from Grapes & Hops to something else...

 

[nmbigfoot02]

Cyndi,
Which Publix? The one across from the Home Depot/Target or the one @ Friendship & Spout?

 

[cyndi]

The one across from Home Depot/Target that's right off of 985. I don't know too much about the SS/Friendship area.

 

[nmbigfoot02]

I have to go by the HD tomorrow to grab some things for the house. If I can remember, I'll stop by and see if they're smoke friendly.

 

[nmbigfoot02]

Took me four weeks to finally go by the place, but the Green Tavern (formerly Grapes & Hops) looks like they have a smoking section out on their patio. I saw some ashtrays out there when I was passing by.
I also found a place callerd Bottom of the Cup. They specifically state that they are a smoking friendly bar.
Bottom of the Cup Golf Bar & Grill

7435 Spout Springs Rd

Flowery Branch, GA 30542