New Lewiston shop looks to weave past culture, present community

O’s Smoke Store proprietor, Omar Ali, and lead salesperson, Hannah Thompson, stand prepared amid a colourful and beautiful array of store wares.

Mon, Sep thirteenth 2021 07:00 am

By Daniel Davey

With the appearance of vaping, and the rising reputation of hemp-based oils and derivatives (CBD), smoke outlets have opened up all throughout Western New York. It appears inevitable, then, that one would open in Lewiston.

Some would possibly say that’s lucky. Some would possibly take into account it with a shoulder shrug.

For Omar Ali, proprietor and proprietor of O’s Smoke Store on Middle Road, the match is apparent. Having simply opened in June, already Ali’s clients, it appears, come from in every single place. When working the unique O’s Smoke Store in Niagara Falls, he had discovered his clients have been coming from throughout Niagara County.

“There was clients from Lewiston, Youngstown, Wilson. I needed I’d had one thing nearer for them. After I noticed this location, I stated it’s good. You already know, it’s a small little location proper on Middle Road. I believed to deliver one thing new to Lewiston,” Ali stated. “And , Lewiston is gorgeous.”

 He appears to have completed one thing new, by transforming one thing outdated. A stroll into the Middle Road store instantly reveals a shocking and colourful array of merchandise probably by no means seen within the village. Many years previous, such institutions have been known as head outlets – the concept being that the products therein have been for one’s thoughts, and the associated counterculture actions to develop it. However occasions have modified, a minimum of considerably.

Right here one can discover a possible array of smoking merchandise – there are cigarettes and a wide array of cigars. There are a selection of CBD flowers and Kratom powder, each of that are for smoking. And, after all, quite a few vaping merchandise. However, Ali says, “Some individuals, they don’t smoke, they usually don’t wish to vape, so there’s (CBD) edibles. And numerous your older individuals, if they’ve again ache, arthritis, nervousness … it helps with that. Lots of people have tried it, they usually got here again and received extra as a result of it helped them.”

And with that array of smoking merchandise, O’s shares a comparable choice of paraphernalia to smoke them with. Amongst them are a shocking assortment of bongs, or “glass,” as they’re referred to by as we speak’s customers. There are hookahs and pipes and clips and masks. All in a exceptional number of shapes and colours and sizes.

“It’s completely different. It’s completely different for the Village of Lewiston. And lots of people appear to love it. For my clients, they’re blissful it’s right here, it’s near them. And there’s somewhat little bit of every little thing right here for them,” Ali stated.

He’s satisfied the character of Lewiston particularly brings one other facet to his store. “I just like the vacationers that come right here. It’s good once I get clients from completely different states. They go to the eating places, and are available and seize a cigar after dinner. The bars right here and the eating places – they only stroll; you see numerous walkers, they usually see us.”

“A whole lot of locals are available and like it, too,” stated Hannah Thompson, main gross sales and repair particular person on the store. “Folks have actually preferred the situation, and particularly vacationers after they’re right here strolling up and down Middle Road they usually see it.”

Thompson stated most of the clients coming from out of state come from locations the place such outlets are widespread, and never so widespread.

“They suppose it’s actually attention-grabbing to return right here and see one thing locally like this,” she stated.

That group really feel is a part of what has introduced Ali to Lewiston. Earlier than opening the store, he’d spent a great period of time within the village, frequenting the eating places and visiting different institutions and riverfront.

“It’s stunning right here in Lewiston Ali stated.

He’d just like the store to be part of that group. And he’s begun stocking it with merchandise that he hopes brings the group in, providing shirts, hats, backpacks, mugs, skateboards, jewellery and items of artwork.

“The earrings are literally made by a neighborhood lady who lives in Lewiston,” Thompson stated, and indicated that different gadgets, resembling clips, are additionally made by a neighborhood craftsperson.

“We’re positively fascinated with any native made stuff we are able to get within the retailer,” Ali stated. “We’d like there to be one thing right here for almost everyone.”

Providing up what’s new with a little bit of what’s outdated, O’s is bound to get much more consideration of a curious group and walkers-by. And so they’re trying to make a great impression.

“There’s a great quantity of people that are available who don’t smoke. They arrive in and simply go searching and speak and ask questions,” Thompson stated.

Added Ali: “And lots of people that used to smoke again within the day, they arrive in they usually’re like, ‘Wow!’ It reminds them of the ’60s or ’70s.”

“However lately,” added Thompson, “it’s all simply extra accepted as a complete.”

O’s Smoke Store is positioned at 482 Middle St., Lewiston.