Johnny’s Smokeshop 34th St.

Johnny's Smokeshop 34th St. Is one of the more memorable spots for a smoke shop in St. Petersburg, and it is really two things under one roof: a smoke shop and a kava and hookah lounge with real energy to it. Walk in and you might find people dancing to music having a good time. Ask anyone who spends an evening here and they will tell you the vibe is the draw, cozy and immaculate, the kind of place where you settle in and stay a while.

It keeps late hours too, which suits the lounge crowd. On the smoke shop side, they carry a big spread: vapes and disposables, rolling papers, glass pipes and water pipes, hookah and shisha, plus kratom and CBD and hemp products. Word around town is they will often have the specific vape flavor you have been calling around for. One local came in hunting for Raz in a particular flavor after striking out everywhere else and found several in stock. The hookahs get high marks for hitting smooth, and the lounge side runs a full menu of kava, K-tea, coffee, and flavored add-ins like cucumber.

Note the kratom selection can run a little thin at times, which makes sense given the kava focus. Scotty owns the place and locals speak of him like an institution, "the real OG" as one longtime regular put it. Names come up again and again for taking care of people: Alaina, Aurora, Jeff, Nathan, and Ricky, all known as knowledgeable and easy to deal with. Regulars come back for deals and for being looked after. There is even open mic night on the third Thursday of the month.

Fair to say service can be hit or miss on a busy night, and a couple of folks have grumbled about slow checkout, but the overwhelming word on Johnny's is warm, welcoming, and worth the trip. With more than 500 people weighing in and a solid four-plus reputation, this one has earned its regulars.