Three Cheers for Good B&M's

judandhispipe

This is a shoutout and thanks to Dan Spaniola and Paul's Pipe Shop up in Flint.

About two weeks ago I purchased this nice little Sav Tre series billiard. I was happily breaking it in, when all of a sudden it got clogged. Couldn't draw, couldn't run a cleaner through it. Could run a thin wire. I knew I was running low on Arrowhead, the flagship blend at Paul's, so I decided to run up there. I had previously had a very positive experience with a repair they did.

Drove up there, Dan took it into the back, and had it clear in no more than maybe ten minutes. Said he used a small drill bit as a reamer. Nothing came out – he had no idea what happened. Charge – zip nada. (May have been different if I wasn't buying 8 ounces of Arrowhead.) Gassed up my car, had lunch, and happily smoked Capstan blue in it on the way home. (I ran a cleaner through it three times on the drive.) Total time spent – a hair over three hours.

As a side note, Paul's is the place to look for old blends. I saw canisters of Sail Green and Sail Red, with the Theodorus Niemeyer name on them. Lord knows how long ago Sail Red was discontinued...

Kmhartle

While online retailers can beat the socks off of B&M on price, they will never be able to offer the kind of customer service that you can get at a B&M. Glad to hear they took such good care of you! 

judandhispipe

Paul's has been in business for well over 70 years. They are a true legend. 

ghostsofpompeii

To everyone with a Proper Tobacco Shop near you count yourself lucky. If I did I'd make regular purchases - if for no other reason than to insure it remained in business. I wouldn't mind spending a few extra bucks on tobacco to keep a local shop owner in business ... although I'd have to be honest and say with prices being much cheaper from on-line retailers ... the bulk of my orders would be going to places like Pipes & Cigars. But I'd make sure to visit my local B&M for a couple of tin purchases per month to establish myself as a 'regular'. And find an occasion to meet another fellow piper in person. Which is something I really miss when The Tinder Box closed down. There always seemed to be a fellow piper willing to make a recommendation or just chat about the hobby or their latest purchase.

motie2

motie2

Leavitt & Peirce: For All Your Hoity-Toity Tobacco Needs

http://backsideofamerica.blogspot.com/2018/11/leavitt-peirce-for-all-your-hoity-toity.html

Balisong

That was one of my stops in Havard Square. I spent many Saturday mornings taking the T to Fanuel Hall Boston for cappuccino then the pipe walk began. Up Tremont to Ehrlich's for tobacco and across Boston Commons and Public Garden to Peretti's. From there up Comm Ave to Mass Ave passing MIT onto Central Square and finally Levitt and Pierce in Harvard Square!

ghostsofpompeii

@motie2 I've never had an occasion to visit Boswell - but I have ordered from them on occasion, and their "Christmas Cookie" and "Cupcake" are two outstanding aromatic blends. As a matter of fact I just finished up what I had left of my "Christmas Cookie" and need to restock.

motie2

May not be the right folder, but......

2020 Tobacco Retail Survey: The Results

By Tobacco Business.  January 6, 2021

https://tobaccobusiness.com/2020-tobacco-retail-survey-the-results/

mfresa

Most of what I see are vape shops.

Beetleman

I made the trip to Jackson Tuesday. I'm a little over two hours away. 

motie2

@Beetleman

Beginning in 1964, I had three beetles (Pogo, painted blue with yellow fenders; then a Red, and then an Orange.)
Then I got a Transporter (aka Bus). 

Now we have a Prius van and a Prius.
Anyway, no more bugs, and VW corporate turned out to be dishonest.

motie2

To keep it on topic, all my earlier vehicles were frequently driven to Straus Tobacconists in Cincinnati, 1964-1982.🥴

motie2

KA9FFJ

@motie2
Don't you wish that was just down the street from where you live?

Montecristo

KA9FFJ

Out and about earlier today and took advantage by stopping at a semi-local B&M.

KA9FFJ

Here's the foyer plus my small purchase.
Didn't really need the tobacco, but always try to buy something no matter how small...

RockyMountainBriar

I love those huge cigars😬
You would need a bonfire to light one, some muscles to lift it, and a strong will to smoke one to a nub😬
I wish we still had a Tinder Box here, even as a youngster I thought their wares were super cool.

motie2

The decline in brick and mortar pipe tobacco shops like Tinder Box can be attributed to several factors:

1. Changing consumer habits: Pipe smokers are more likely to purchase tobacco online rather than in physical stores, as they tend to be more price-conscious and willing to wait for their purchases.

2. Shift to online sales: Many tobacco retailers have moved their business online, with only 37% of stores selling cigars online in addition to their physical locations.

3. Regulatory pressures: Tobacco shops face high taxes, constant pressure from anti-tobacco lobbies, and increasing regulations, making it difficult to operate profitably.

4. Reduced demand: The overall decline in overall smoking rates has impacted the pipe tobacco market as well.

5. Competition from vape shops: Some traditional tobacco shops have been replaced by vape shops, which cater to a different customer base.

6. Economic factors: Inflation and changing consumer spending habits have affected tobacco retailers, with some customers moving away from more expensive brands.

7. Limited product knowledge: Some tobacco shops may lack expertise in pipe tobacco, focusing more on cigars or other products.

These factors have contributed to the scarcity of dedicated pipe tobacco shops, with many enthusiasts having to travel long distances or rely on online purchases to find specialty products and a wide selection of pipe tobaccos.

PappyJoe

The New Orleans Pipe Club made a pilgrimage to The Country Squire in Jackson, Mississippi today. Only seven of us but it was a good visit. 
(from left) Mike Grap, JP Ruiz, Steve Williams, Gary McKneely, Joe Gibson, Jon David Cole (owner of The Country Squire), Chris Rigol and Jeff Bradley. 

opipeman

@RockyMountainBriar;
Fine looking group of gentlemen.

RockyMountainBriar

@opipeman
The last comment was probably directed towards @PappyJoe, but I will second your observation🙂👍🏻

opipeman

@RockyMountainBriar;
Thanks for the correction. @PappyJoe, My apologies. Maybe I'm getting to old for a pipe club?

PappyJoe

@opipeman
Too Old?

You only become too old when you stop breathing.

Ruffinogold

 Any time I travel and when I used to travel for work , I made a point to search out B&Ms . Ive been to a good many and some  of the ones mentioned in this thread .
These days , most smoke shops are either a " Cigar Joint " or a bs head shop/vape type thing . So anytime a person can experience a real Tobacconist shop , its like a gift from God . If I walk in a shop and they have a good selectin of pipes , tobacco , cigars and stuff ... and whomever is working there has a good attitude , Id say thats a great shop . If they have a meh selection and the folks there have a good attitude , its still a great shop . People are where its at 

I have 2 " cigar joints " in my county and I rarely visit them . However , there is one place that I do visit often and its just a regular joint with mostly chew , Snuff , the old school twists and plugs [ some of which are good to smoke ] , cigarettes , a few MM cigars , candy ..... and ... they have a good selection of grabow pipes , MM cobs  , some OTC , zippo flints / fluid . wicks , pipe cleaners 
Its where I go for Captain Black , Smokers Pride Black Cavendish and SWR .

When I moved here in 2000 , back then I didnt " cellar " and I had what was left of a 5lb bag of MB Scottish, which had half a pound in it  and a Pouch of Middletons Cherry . I wasnt ordering anything online at that time [ if there was anything ?  ] and I was thrilled to have the local shop . I wasnt much into cobs before 2000 . I had a couple when I was a teenager and lost them hiking or fishing . Anyway , I snagged a cob there and a pouch of SWR and a bag of SPBC . That day I had my first bowl of SWR in a cob and Ive had that combination of SWR/Cob/Coffee almost every morning since . I had quit posting it at an old forum because I felt I was being redundant and boring posting that every single morning .SWR in a Cob with Coffee is so perfect and its just what Ive done for 25 years at this point and I can thank my local store for being there when there was nothing else . The good ole Fannin County Tobacco Company ... cant wait to see them this week Im out of SPBC 

Next I go , Ill take pictures because why not . Its really a regular joint and nothing too exciting ...  I mean , its not IRC in Chicago , lol , but I do love it .

KA9FFJ

@Ruffinogold
Same pipe, different blends = POST!
Different pipe, same blends = POST!
Same pipe, same blend... ...
POST ANYWAY!
😉