Tacoma, WA Tobacconists?

[pipesmokingtom]

Anyone know of a tobacconist around Tacoma that has a lounge? Anyone around Tacoma want to meet up for a smoke if so?
I know there is a Tinder Box here, but not sure if you can smoke inside.

 

[jguss]

Not sure about Tacoma proper, but Smokey Joe's just next door in Fife is incredible
As for meet-ups, there are many members of the Seattle Pipe Club in the general area

 

[pipesmokingtom]

Thanks for the info! I was just clued in on Smokey Joe's from the proprietor of the Tinder Box where I'm currently browsing.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

If anyone sees this and wants to meet up at Smokey Joe's tonight, let me know!

 

[alfredgee]

Did you find anything good while at Tinder Box? I will be travelling in the area later this week and I was contemplating dropping in. I'm curious how the Tobacco selection is.
Thanks!
Alfred

 

[pipesmokingtom]

Hi, Alfred! Their selection is very Tinder-Box centric with the expected jars of their proprietary blends. Aside from that, I saw the Frog Mortons represented, one pouch of Borkum Riff, some Balkan Sasieni and perhaps 3 or 4 other tins.
What I did find was a fine and accommodating proprietor in Jeff. He was very patient and gave me a good offer on a pipe-for-store-credit trade which I may take him up on tomorrow. He's worth stopping in and seeing. His prices on pipes were appropriate and he has a nice wall display to choose from. Go and see Jeff if nothing else.
Plus, there's a GIANT Bass Pro Shop directly behind the shop as well, and that's not ever a bad thing.

 

[wyfbane]

Jeff is really awesome. His whole staff is pretty amazing. I bought my first pipes from Elizabeth, who is their pipe guru. The Tinderbox is a great and wonderful place. It is hobbled by the state tobacco tax and the prohibition of smoking on premises.
Smokey Joes is a wonderful lounge. Located on tribal lands, you can smoke there to your hearts content. They have a great selection of cigars and I think they carry SPC blends there, as well. They are super pipe friendly and it is the meeting place for the SPC.
I live 2 hours away now. I used to live 12 minutes from Smokey Joes. If I were around I would certainly go meet you! For some reason the SPC is underrepresented on this forum. I have way more contact with you guys than I do with them. In any event. Welcome the the PNW! Glad you went to the Tinderbox. Try some of their 12th man blend if you get a chance it is a fun aro modeled after the skittles that Marshawn Lynch was known to enjoy.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

I've been married in to the PNW for a while now, but this is the first time I've been reaching out to meet up whilst up here. Come meet, Wyfbane! Give me a time!

 

[jonasclark]

Does Smokey Joe's have pipes for sale? I haven't been in yet.
As far as I know, Tinder Box is the major tobacco/pipe shop in Tacoma. At 5606 Lawrence St. is a shop called Tacoma Pipe & Tobacco, and it's really more of a specialty beer store, but it has some blended pipe tobacco and a case full of the biggest, craziest meerschaums you'll likely ever see in a store, either not for sale or priced very high, but worth looking at.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

No, Smokey Joe's does not sell pipes. Recently they started selling Seattle Pip Club blends as the Seattle Pipe Club meets there. They have a really good selection of cigars at pretty reasonable prices. The SPC tobacco is reasonably priced as well. Keep in mind WA state has the second highest tobacco taxes in the US.

 

[mso489]

It occurs to me that tribal lands have a natural franchise on pipe and tobacco shops and smoking lounges, sort of like casinos. If no one else can blend and sell and offer lounge areas for pipe smokers, perhaps the First Nations can assert their claims. It seems to me Native Americans grew the original product and made the first pipes.

 

[jonasclark]

I'd ask why Smokey Joe's doesn't sell pipes, but I'm not sure they'd sell a lot. The Tinder Box certainly sells pipes, but they're the go-to place in Western Washington. The only other shops I know of with any kind of selection are Rain City Cigar in Georgetown (south of downtown Seattle) and F. K. Kirsten (north of downtown)... and supposedly there's a place in Bellingham, up north.
If you want a big selection, gotta go to Rich's in Portland.