Alternative Places To Buy Shisha?

[Snowdrifter]

Looking for someplace local as I like to support local business vs. online companies.

For some reason, I always feel weird walking into a smoke shop. The guys there are always nice and pleasant, but I feel strange. It's probably because I'm only 18 and everyone else I see walk in is older, so I feel a bit out of place

Plus it would be nice to get shisha & my regular shopping done in one trip. I'm in Redmond, WA in case that is pertinent. Any ideas?


Thanks!

[no one important]

my suggestion--keep buying shisha from trusted online vendors UNLESS you find a really good smoke shop that you know keeps their stuff fresh.

from my experience, almost all smoke shops will keep their shisha on the shelves until it is sold. that means if its a year and a half old its staying up. this among other factors should keep you buying from trusted vendors like 5star, or hookahjohn (both always keep their shisha fresh).

[Chreees]

Look for Middle Eastern grocery stores. They typically will have a selection of hookah goods. Some may have more traditional stuff like Khalil Mamoons and Nakhla, but others that cater to the bro crowd have stuff like shitty Chinese brand hookahs and Starbuzz. You'll obviously want to look for the more traditional selection...

For me, there's a store in Nashville called Baraka Grocery that sells some decent stuff (neatest thing they have is Super Jumbo tongs), but it is always changing when I make the trip down there. More Starbuzz these days and less Nakhla. Sigh. But there's a store I recently found just a few miles from my house called Spice n' Meat and they have every flavor of Al Fakher, Nakhla Two Apples in the can (YUM BOYAH) or box, Nakhla Mint, Coconaras, Exoticas, and a few Khalil Mamoon pipes. Talked to the owner and he refuses to stock Starbuzz because he's Egyptian and thinks it's the crappiest hookah tobacco on the market, but he also won't stock any more flavors of Nakhla because he said it gets old sitting on his shelf because everyone likes the Al Fakher. I really only go there to buy Nak DA in the can and will be buying Coconaras from there once my current coal stash of Cocomazayas and Razans are gone.

Finding local places typically won't get you everything you need or want, but you can usually find a few things that you would have otherwise purchased online.

[Hassouni]

Yeah, seek out the Arab shops. They'll usually have Nakhla and Fakher at a minimum, at VERY good prices

[king_lunchb0x]

i agree with chrees and hassouni, if you go to those discount cigarette stores they carry starbuzz a lot and that afzal, but middle eastern market is ideal cause they will likely carry better coals and fair prices. hard to track them down though. hope you find a place

[SundayFundaysTV]

I also agree with Chrees, Hassouni and King_lunchb0x I used to go to local smoke shops and most wouldn't have a good selection. I started going to Arab markets locally, and found everything I wanted at really good prices. What I would do is drive around and go exploring around your area looking for Arab markets if you choose to buy locally.

[Pavo21]

[quote name='Chreees' timestamp='1347461307' post='556206']
Look for Middle Eastern grocery stores. They typically will have a selection of hookah goods. Some may have more traditional stuff like Khalil Mamoons and Nakhla, but others that cater to the bro crowd have stuff like shitty Chinese brand hookahs and Starbuzz. You'll obviously want to look for the more traditional selection...

For me, there's a store in Nashville called Baraka Grocery that sells some decent stuff (neatest thing they have is Super Jumbo tongs), but it is always changing when I make the trip down there. More Starbuzz these days and less Nakhla. Sigh. But there's a store I recently found just a few miles from my house called Spice n' Meat and they have every flavor of Al Fakher, Nakhla Two Apples in the can (YUM BOYAH) or box, Nakhla Mint, Coconaras, Exoticas, and a few Khalil Mamoon pipes. Talked to the owner and he refuses to stock Starbuzz because he's Egyptian and thinks it's the crappiest hookah tobacco on the market, but he also won't stock any more flavors of Nakhla because he said it gets old sitting on his shelf because everyone likes the Al Fakher. I really only go there to buy Nak DA in the can and will be buying Coconaras from there once my current coal stash of Cocomazayas and Razans are gone.

[b]Finding local places typically won't get you everything you need or want, but you can usually find a few things that you would have otherwise purchased online.[/b]
[/quote]

NOT IF YOU LIVE IN SOCAL!!!!!!!!!

[Chreees]

[quote name='Pavo21' timestamp='1347520171' post='556272']
[quote name='Chreees' timestamp='1347461307' post='556206']
Look for Middle Eastern grocery stores. They typically will have a selection of hookah goods. Some may have more traditional stuff like Khalil Mamoons and Nakhla, but others that cater to the bro crowd have stuff like shitty Chinese brand hookahs and Starbuzz. You'll obviously want to look for the more traditional selection...

For me, there's a store in Nashville called Baraka Grocery that sells some decent stuff (neatest thing they have is Super Jumbo tongs), but it is always changing when I make the trip down there. More Starbuzz these days and less Nakhla. Sigh. But there's a store I recently found just a few miles from my house called Spice n' Meat and they have every flavor of Al Fakher, Nakhla Two Apples in the can (YUM BOYAH) or box, Nakhla Mint, Coconaras, Exoticas, and a few Khalil Mamoon pipes. Talked to the owner and he refuses to stock Starbuzz because he's Egyptian and thinks it's the crappiest hookah tobacco on the market, but he also won't stock any more flavors of Nakhla because he said it gets old sitting on his shelf because everyone likes the Al Fakher. I really only go there to buy Nak DA in the can and will be buying Coconaras from there once my current coal stash of Cocomazayas and Razans are gone.

[b]Finding local places typically won't get you everything you need or want, but you can usually find a few things that you would have otherwise purchased online.[/b]
[/quote]

NOT IF YOU LIVE IN SOCAL!!!!!!!!!
[/quote]

Shut up! We can't all be privileged like you!

[Coyote]

Maybe you should just get over "feeling weird" and do whatever the fuck you feel like doing and spend your hard earned money the way you please.


*Comments in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Tangiers Tobacco*

[mushrat]

um...that came off kinda oddly coyote....
But the sentiment is true. It's your money, go do what you want to with it, screw what anyone else thinks.

[IainUM]

yeah, that was kinda weird...



local places are the best for anything other than tangiers for the most part. finding cheap deals on tobacco is great, which is why i rarely order online. if i do, i pretty much only get tang