Uptown Smoke Shop

Uptown Smoke Shop has built a strong reputation in Reading, and a lot of that comes down to the couple who run it. Ask anyone who shops here and you'll hear the same thing: the owner and his wife treat people right. Regulars describe them as a sweet, happy pair who go out of their way to help, and if the shop doesn't have what you're after, the owner will order it in for you. That kind of personal service keeps people coming back.

The shelves cover the essentials and then some. You'll find vapes and disposable vapes, cigars, hookah and shisha, plus glass pipes and water pipes, tobacco pipes, cigarettes, rolling papers, and the smoking accessories you'd expect to grab on a quick stop. The word around Reading is that the selection is solid and the quality holds up, with one regular summing it up as "all quality." Folks also appreciate the friendly, respectful atmosphere and the little extras, like a discount when you pay with your card. What people seem to value most is the knowledge behind the counter.

More than one person has walked in unsure of what they wanted and left pointed straight to the right product, with the owner able to talk them through it. That combination of a genuinely welcoming environment and an owner who knows his stuff makes this a comfortable place to shop. It's a newer spot, and locals are broadly happy with it, though we've heard the odd grumble about the phone going unanswered and the coffee corner needing attention. Neither seems to keep the regulars away.

For a friendly, well-stocked tobacco shop in Reading, Pennsylvania, Uptown Smoke Shop is worth a visit.