Smoke Zone

The selection is good, the prices are okay. However I went in on July 5^th to purchase a bubbler. The first bubbler I had an interest in had a crack already in it and they were still trying to sell it and told me nothing about it. So after placing that item back and after some searching I found another bubbler. I purchased the bubbler only to find a crack in it 2 days later. All I can say is examine each peace all over before you purchase it and make sure there are no existing cracks. Pretty bad to be selling already cracked pieces and not mentioning it at all, I can understand selling a cracked piece clearances but not this.

Today I stopped into The Smoke Zone in the Short North for the first time. A friend and I were in and out of about 5 different smoke shops as we walked down High st today. This location was head and shoulders above the rest for a couple reasons.
One, the guy at the counter was super friendly and helpful. He answered our questions, and wasn’t judgmental when I explained that a certain item was out of my price range. He said he understood, and helped me choose something else. He also sent me home with the remainder of a few discontinued e-​juices that had been used for samples.
Two, the prices were way, way better. The item I bought was at least $ 3 cheaper than any of the other shops we were in today. I checked prices on some of the glass items, and The Smoke Zone beat those prices too.
Three, and this is going to sound a little snobbish on my part… it just seemed kinda… classier. It didn’t seem seedy or illicit. It was clean, uncluttered, and items were spread out enough so that you didn’t feel like you were elbow-​to-​elbow with other customers.

Was in town a few weeks ago and needed a smoking device to get me through. Stopped in a pleasant guy named Jake helped me out. Thought they had an awesome selection and I wanted to get a waterpipe, but couldnt due to traveling. Settled on a hand pipe and the price was right.
I live in California and we don’t have stores like this. Awesome store, great selection, excellent service. Really glad I went in.

Okay, I know that not every smoke shop is run by burn-​out feel-​good hippies who would rather nod along to the Dead (hell yeah!) than actively engage customers. I know this. But whenever I stumble into a smoke shop with more of an XTREME feel, like this place, it takes me aback.
That’s not to say Smoke Zone is in any way unfriendly or uninviting. Well, maybe in some ways; they have a few signs that go a little overboard in warning customers about various things. Even jokes of threats of violence towards customers is a bit beyond the pale, as far as I’m concerned.
The interior is just a little garish, being RED RED RED and black, just a tad more antagonistic a color scheme than I want to deal with during, say, a Gallery Hop Bong Price Comparison Trip.
All in all a fairly bare-​bones shop. The selection of glass is fine, but there’s not a whole lot else for sale, especially when compared to a stoner superstore like Puff ‘n’ Stuff or even Waterbeds ‘n’ Stuff. ‘n Stuff. ’ n Stuff.
I’ll go back if I’m nearby, but I won’t often search it out, specifically.

So from what I understand they have been open for about 3 months now? Decent selection of glass pieces, hookahs, bongs and other smoking goods. Prices weren’t too bad and the staff was even willing to negotiate with ya.