Sweet Fire Tobacco

Ask anyone who shops here and the first thing they'll bring up is the people. Sweet Fire Tobacco has become a real local favorite in Houghton Lake, and much of that comes down to the folks behind the counter. Crystal, the manager, is the kind of person who asks what you're after and offers to order it in if it isn't on the shelf that day. Rob gets brought up again and again for his energy and the welcome he gives every person who walks through the door, and Ben and Ryan get their share of praise too.

One regular who stops in every couple of days put it simply: always a smiley face when you walk in. The store itself keeps things clean and well organized, and locals will tell you the vibe is genuinely nice. On the vape side you'll find disposables and e-liquid from names like Coastal Clouds, Breeze, GeekVape, Fruitia and Mega, along with hardware from Ooze and Lookah. Cigar smokers are well looked after with a lineup that includes Romeo y Julieta, Perdomo, Cohiba, Ashton and Montecristo.

They also carry cigarettes at fair prices, rolling papers including Raw, tobacco pipes, glass and the everyday smoking accessories. A few people wish the disposable flavor selection ran a little deeper, so if you're chasing a specific variety it's worth asking whether they can order it. Prices come up often, and the word around Houghton Lake is they're fair across the board, cigarettes included. We've heard the occasional grumble about final-sale policies on fragile glass, so it's smart to check your purchase before you leave the lot.

That aside, this is a spot people keep coming back to, and more than one longtime shopper who has been to other Sweet Fire locations says the Houghton Lake store is the best of the bunch. New to the area and unimpressed with the other options in town? Plenty of folks felt the same way and settled right in here.