Matchbox Smoke Shop

Matchbox Smoke Shop has built a strong following on South Street in Philadelphia, and it is easy to see why once you step inside. The store is clean and well kept, with organized display cases and, as more than one local puts it, some genuinely impressive glass art tucked in the back. Up front you will find well-priced pieces, and the selection runs from vapes and disposable vapes to hookah and shisha, glass pipes and water pipes, and a solid range of smoking accessories. People who shop here regularly call it the most helpful glass shop they have found in the neighborhood.

The staff is a big part of the draw. Ask anyone who shops here and they will tell you the crew takes time with newcomers, walking novices through the products without any attitude. There are the little touches too, like throwing in a free mat so a new piece has somewhere safe to rest. One regular who came in limping after knee surgery still talks about how the team checked in on his recovery every visit.

That kind of personal attention is what keeps folks coming back. On the bigger-ticket pieces, we hear they are often willing to work with you a little on price, though don't expect them to give the store away. To be fair, opinion is a little split with their shipping and online orders. A few people have run into stock issues or slow deliveries and come away frustrated.

In the store itself, though, the word around Philadelphia is overwhelmingly positive, and plenty of people happily make Matchbox their regular stop. One heads-up: at last word the shop appeared to be going through some renovations, so it is worth checking before you make the trip. Locals are hoping they reopen soon.