Smoke shops go exotic as cigarette sales wane

Like smoke wafting into your personal space, they cannot be ignored: advertisements on Rochester-area television about smoking products and exotic, controversial herbal incense with names such as K2.
New smoke shops are opening in the area, selling tobacco and a variety of alternatives to cigarettes, including cigars, loose tobacco and pipe tobacco made in Jordan. The shops, both the new and older ones, are advertising aggressively, helping owners make up for revenue they are losing to declining flavoring cigarette sales.

Earlier this year, the state Legislature increased the tax on a pack of cigarettes from $2.75 to $4.35. Shop owners blame the higher tax for their growing reliance on other products such as rolling papers, incense and hookahs — Indian and Middle Eastern-style pipes with elongated stems used for smoking. Some smoke shops even sell shirts, lottery tickets, knives and novelty items.

"We don't sell the amount of tobacco we used to. I lost 50 percent of my normal business," said John Kelly, 39, owner of Westside Smokeshop on Lyell Avenue, which opened in 2004. "The government is just out of control."

But New York doesn't tax loose tobacco as heavily as brand-name cigarettes. Also lightly regulated are tobacco-smoking accessories such as water pipes. But please don't call them bongs.

"No bongs. Water pipes," said Rachel Baxter, 24, general manager of Smoker's Choice at 2851 West Henrietta Road in Henrietta, which opened in September. "Bong ... is a negative referral."

Some smoke shop owners will ask customers to leave if they use code words or even mention the word "marijuana." Baxter said she doesn't tolerate people who seek out marijuana aids. It is hardly a secret that hookahs and water pipes can be used with marijuana.

People interested in saving money on tobacco can save "tons" by rolling their own cigarettes or smoking hookah or water-pipe tobacco, said Baxter.

She said the Henrietta store is the largest in the 40-store, two-state Smoker's Choice chain. It showcases a $4,200 water pipe the owner bought in Las Vegas.