Good friends, hot coffee, plenty of rounded conversation, Old wood and brick, new pipes and a knowledgeable tobacconist.
What would your ideal B&M look like?
- Thread starter deathmetal
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my ideal B&M is about 10 miles from my current jobsite, Up in Smoke in North Dallas. Leather chairs, about a 600sqft humidor that's floor to ceiling lined with sticks, decent selection of both bulk and tinned tobaccos, pipes range from Sav to Dunhill, liquor cabinet & wet bar in the back for members, friendly staff...last time I was I there (with a member here) the owner called and asked how many customers were in, then brought in lunch for us.
This place looks like fun:
http://www.upinsmoke.org/
Needs more melee weapons on the walls however.
http://www.upinsmoke.org/
Needs more melee weapons on the walls however.
Country Squire is pretty nice. If I ever hit the lottery, I'd open up a private club, members only... private clubs have more lenience when it comes to laws in some cases. I'd incorporate all the best ideas. Of course the private club would have nominal dues, pipe smokers pay less.
Being that I live in Chicago, my ideal B&M would be thoroughly urban. I see it consisting of three parts: the store, the indoor lounge, and the outdoor lounge.
The building: located in a bustling neighborhood but marked only by a very small and discrete sign. You have to take a nondescript elevator to get to the place. Pretty much unless you're looking for this place intentionally, you won't find it by accident.
The store: there's a wall covered in pipes that patrons can pick up and feel in their hands. There's another wall full of jars of unique tobacco blends mixed on site and that you can only buy in that particular store. They also carry tins of familiar favorites from all over the world. I suppose there could be a humidor for cigars since those are big money-makers, but if the shop could sustain itself with pipe-related sales alone I'd leave cigars out. The shop also has pipe repair and restoration services available.
The indoor lounge: allows entry if you buy something in the store during your visit or for members who pay monthly for unlimited access. Leather armchairs everywhere. BYOB alcohol policy. There are few pool tables lit by stained-glass chandeliers. On the weekends the lounge hosts local jazz and blues musicians on its small stage in the corner.
The outdoor lounge: on the rooftop of the building, overlooking the skyline and passing trains. There are wooden rocking chairs everywhere surrounding fire pits. There's also tobacco leaves growing on plots throughout the rooftop, which are used in the store's house blends.
So who wants to quit their job and invest with me? 8)
The building: located in a bustling neighborhood but marked only by a very small and discrete sign. You have to take a nondescript elevator to get to the place. Pretty much unless you're looking for this place intentionally, you won't find it by accident.
The store: there's a wall covered in pipes that patrons can pick up and feel in their hands. There's another wall full of jars of unique tobacco blends mixed on site and that you can only buy in that particular store. They also carry tins of familiar favorites from all over the world. I suppose there could be a humidor for cigars since those are big money-makers, but if the shop could sustain itself with pipe-related sales alone I'd leave cigars out. The shop also has pipe repair and restoration services available.
The indoor lounge: allows entry if you buy something in the store during your visit or for members who pay monthly for unlimited access. Leather armchairs everywhere. BYOB alcohol policy. There are few pool tables lit by stained-glass chandeliers. On the weekends the lounge hosts local jazz and blues musicians on its small stage in the corner.
The outdoor lounge: on the rooftop of the building, overlooking the skyline and passing trains. There are wooden rocking chairs everywhere surrounding fire pits. There's also tobacco leaves growing on plots throughout the rooftop, which are used in the store's house blends.
So who wants to quit their job and invest with me? 8)
Reading this thread, I realize my ideals are somewhat conditioned by what I expect could survive as a business.
I'll settle for a good selection, comfortable environment and genial people.
I'll settle for a good selection, comfortable environment and genial people.
Seems like a good place:
http://www.pipesbygeorge.com/a-pipe-smokers-primer/
Also some great information here:
http://www.pipesbygeorge.com/a-pipe-smokers-primer/
Would love to know what's on that bookshelf! "Shelfies" are a good way to find interesting books.
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