Cloud 9 Smoke Shop, Vape Hookah Co.

Ask anyone who shops here and the first thing they'll bring up is the staff. Cloud 9 Smoke Shop, Vape Hookah Co. has built a real reputation in Atlanta on the strength of its team, and the names come up again and again. Ja gets singled out constantly for being knowledgeable and welcoming, even juggling a room full of guests at once. Nikki knows the products cold and has a way of helping folks track down exactly what they came in for. Kaleb, Cameron, Dawson, Emily, Chanel and Dalson all get their own shout-outs too, which tells you something about the culture in this place. As one regular put it, they're "the best of the best employees."

The selection is what keeps people coming back once the service hooks them. You'll find vapes and disposables, e-liquid and vape juice, and a good range of vaporizers. There's glass on hand too, from pipes to water pipes, plus rolling papers and other smoking accessories. Hookah and shisha are covered for anyone setting up at home, and they stock CBD and hemp products as well as detox items. Locals mention the crew going out of their way to find an alternative when a specific flavor isn't in stock, and more than one person has walked in after searching all over the city only to find what they needed here.

Word around Atlanta is that this location stands apart from the other Cloud 9 spots, with plenty of people calling it their favorite and saying it's the only one they'll go to. The vibe is easygoing, the prices sit right, and out-of-towners get looked after just as well as the regulars. If you're new to the shop, do what the locals do and ask for someone by name. Chances are they'll take care of you.