The Pipe Rack

The Pipe Rack has been part of Akron since 1968, and that kind of longevity tells you plenty. One longtime patron said he's been coming here since he was a teen and the place hasn't changed a bit, which is exactly what people love about it. It's the kind of shop where a first-time pipe smoker and a decades-long cigar aficionado both walk out happy. Cigar smokers have three separate humidors to browse, and the selection runs deep. You'll find Arturo Fuente, Padron, Liga Privada, Oliva, Perdomo, Macanudo, Partagas, Joya de Nicaragua, Acid, Camacho, Ashton, AVO, Caldwell and J.C.

Newman among the sticks here. The pipe wall draws just as much praise. Locals rave about the pipe inventory, with names like Peterson, Savinelli, Nording, Karl Erik, Ferndown, Ascorti and Design Berlin, plus a pipe tobacco selection that regulars call the best around. One fellow said he bought himself a nicer pipe just to make his living room smell like his grandfather's. The staff are the heart of this place.

Ask anyone who shops here and they'll tell you the crew is patient and genuinely knowledgeable, especially with newcomers. More than one first-time pipe buyer has been walked through every step: picking a good starter pipe, choosing a tobacco to sample, and learning how to pack and care for it. People appreciate that nobody tries to oversell you. If the person behind the counter can't answer a question, they'll go find someone who can. One customer even mentioned getting a handy cheat sheet to take home.

There's a clean, well-ventilated smoke room and a comfortable sitting area where you can relax with a cigar. They also carry rolling papers, hookah and shisha, and glass pipes and water pipes. Here's the Akron quirk folks around town love: they stock fishing bait and tackle too, reportedly the cheapest in bait. Prices across the board are considered fair. With a strong reputation earned over more than half a century, this is a real Akron institution worth visiting.