The other day, I had to do a few things in a neighboring town. Before returning home, I took a stroll along its main street. My eyes caught a new, nice little shop ( since Covid, there seem to be more empty/closed shops then active or new ones ).
When I approached it, I got rather surprised . It was a shop selling... smoking accessories. After all, smoking is no longer a popular habit because of its negative impact on health . So, what's the 'profit' logic behind it?!
I don't remember a similar physical 'specialized' shop even in those "jolly" days with people heavy on smoking and no ban on smoking in public. As I 've never been a smoker myself, I don't have the proper background to go into details, but I'll admit there is a rich variety of nice items in this shop with great potential of attracting customers.
'So, smoking is back in town'? I asked the guy in the shop. 'It never quit town', he replied with a smile. He had russian accent; that made me suspect people of russian origin could be the basis of his customers. It is said that many "russians", especially middle-aged and elderly are quite addicted to smoking.
I suppose it was not easy for the owner to get a licence for opening the store. There are many rules and regulations ( such as age-restriction) controlling this kind of business.
The location of the shop is optimal: on the main street, no competition in this area, as far as I could see . It will be interesting to notice at a later stage, if it does well, considering that tobacco is the cause of major lung diseases.
Anyway, I believe this kind of business should not be encouraged neither by the authorities nor by the population.