From: Lynsa <?????????????????????>
Subject: For the Pipes Digest

Hello all--

My fiance and I made the charming discovery that our next-door neighbor
is a cigar smoker; in fact, he's made us presents of a very nice
Dunhill and a couple of Onyxes. We spent a really lovely summer night last
week on his porch, John my fiance and Brian my neighbor smoking the
Onyxes, and I puffing on one of my favorites, a sweet little cigar
called a Frisco from Thompson's of Tampa. What a night. The cool thing
is, Brian's a food services manager at a large hotel here in town; he
organized a cigar night a couple weeks ago and it was such a success
they're going to throw another one.

Request #1: 'd like to surprise my sweetie with a box of really nice
cigars on our wedding day.  I'm not rich. His everyday cigar is a 
Casanova, maduro wrapped, also from Thompsons. Recommendations?

Request #2: I'm still looking for pipe tobacco with a sweet but not sickly
aroma, smooth to the tastebuds and the nose. The closest I've come is
one called Golden Honey from a no-name tobacconist/head shop down the
road. I really don't want to buy there, and they won't tell me who makes
it.

Request #3: John, our friends and I are opening a cafe that will allow
smoking, especially pipe smoking. It'll be the only one in Southeast
Portland that allows smoking of any kind. We'll also be selling tobacco,
starting out with quality cigarettes, tinned tobacco and some cigars,
and eventually want to sell mostly loose and tinned tobacco for pipes
and cigars, with few cigarettes. Actually this is a two-part request. We
also want to have internet access, and are very concerned about smoke
damage to the equipment. So, #3a, what do you smoking computer people
recommend to keep the equipment safe? #3b is, what brands of tobacco
would you suggest we carry in tins to begin with? Whoops #3c, do you
know of wholesalers for loose pipe tobacco?

Regards,
Lynsa

[ Excellent, Lynsa! Great idea! I wish you the best of luck in your
haven for smokers of taste.

Regarding #3a, the major vulnerable points are the removable media and
the keyboard; just cover them when not in use and try not to spill
ashes. The only damage I ever did to my Macintosh by smoking occurred
when an unlit Ben Wade dropped out of my rack onto the keyboard, stem
down. :-) Broke the stem, too. :-(

Regarding #3b, I'd say definitely go for snob appeal. As Cigar
Aficionado has made clear, it's what sells. Dunhill, Rattray's,
Erinmore, Balkan Sobranie, McClelland's, and McConnell spring to
mind. Also get some American Spirit; technically it's cigarette
tobacco, but the idea will appeal. Smudge grass, too. (Anyone know
where to get Native American willow-bark tobacco?) Flake tobacco might
be good, in the sense that there's a minor skill to show off to
customers in rubbing it out.

I'd also recommend stocking a few pipes for customers who don't have
their own. Clays might be good on the low end (Lepeltier makes a nice
double-walled clay pipe that retails for $15, and is well worth
it). You can go upscale from there, but don't put _too_ much $$$ into
inventory to start. You might even consider running a deal like Keen's
English Chop House, where the customers have their own numbered
long-stemmed clay pipes at the cafe, and you'd hang them as
decoration.

And, at the risk of pulling a Polonius, two other things. First, don't
be afraid to spend a few bucks to advertise in the restaurant section
of the local city magazine, whatever that is. Snob appeal sells.
Second, it might be wise to incorporate as a "private club" and hand
out free memberships, to thwart potential anti legislation.

Regarding #3c, you might try the following magazine for sources of
loose tobacco (from Digest #150):

	Smokeshop Magazine
	B M T Publications, Inc.
	7 Penn Plaza
	New York, NY 10001-3900
	212-594-4120  
	FAX: 212-714-0514

Or contact:

	Retail Tobacco Dealers' Association
	The Atrium
	55 Maple Avenue
	Rockville Centre, NY 11570
	(516) 766-4100

The address is from the Encyclopedia of Associations [a _very_ handy
reference!], but I only have the 1989 edition here, and the address
may have changed. If you don't get them at that number, try your local
library for a newer edition. Or maybe someone can confirm the address
or provide a new one?

In any case, please keep us informed, and I'll stop in the next time
I'm in Portland. Do you have a name for the place yet? -S. ]


~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U