Episode 10 - Smokin Premiums, Stuart, FL
Shop: Smokin Premiums
Location: Stuart, FL – in Historic Downtown.
Wooden Indian: I think the Cigar Store Indian is the absolute best feature of this shop. He is made of resin, but the features and design all conform to the expected conventions for this type of art. He is a respectful representation of the honored Native American symbol. This one has what looks like a panther hide draped over his shoulders. It is clearly different than the Chief at Smoke Inn PSL which had an otter hide… or weasel. I have no idea what the Chief was doing in New Orleans collecting beads.
Atmosphere: Smokin Premiums is literally a Mom & Pop shop. It fits into the Old Stuart Downtown theme quite well. All the buildings and shops date back to the early 1920’s. It is in a great setting across the street from the famed Lyric Theatre (circa 1926.) There is much cigar related memorabilia and a few unusual items to see if you should choose to visit.
Service: For my money and interest, a local shop is all about service. If you choose not to differentiate yourself from other merchants and internet outlets by presenting a reasonably tolerable personality, then I probably will not be particularly interested in patronizing your establishment. I did not feel welcome. “Mom” greeted me when I arrived, but it was not a friendly, “Hello.” It was more of a formal: “What do you want?” Not good.
Walk-in: There is a small walk-in at the rear of the shop and humidified cabinets line the walls.
Merchandise: There are plenty of items for purchase ranging from cigars to cabinet humidors. Sorry, no inside photos.
Local Attractions: Downtown Stuart has undergone many renovations since the early 1920’s. It’s worth a stop if you like the “revitalized downtown theme.” One of the cool original landmarks is the Lyric Theatre which is across the street from this shop. Check out the marquis:
Summary: This shop has tremendous potential. I like Stuart.
Stuart History – Wiki.pedia
In 1832, pirate Pedro Gilbert who often used a sandbar off the coast as a lure to unsuspecting prey, chased and caught a US merchant ship named “Mexican.” Although he attempted to burn the ship and kill the crew, they survived to report the incident, ultimately resulting in the capture and subsequent execution of Gilbert and his crew. The bar from which he lured his intended booty is named "Gilbert's Bar" on nautical charts.
The Treasure Coast area that became Stuart was first settled by non-Native Americans in 1870. In 1875, a United States Lifesaving Station was established on Hutchinson Island, near Stuart. Today, the station is known as Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
From 1893-1895, the area was called Potsdam. This name was chosen by Otto Stypmann, a local landowner originally from Potsdam, Germany. Stypmann, with his brother Ernest, owned the land that would become downtown Stuart. Potsdam was renamed Stuart in 1895, after the establishment of the Florida East Coast Railway, in honor of Homer Hine Stuart, Jr., another local landowner.
Disclaimer and Full Disclosure:
Do not smoke too much; it is bad for you. I have the utmost respect for our Native American brothers. They never wear metallic armor. Ice cream is good. Sometimes I use Stay-Puft marshmallows in hot cocoa. I have no financial interest or ownership interest in any cigar shop, store, retailer, wholesaler, distributor, manufacturer, packager, shipper, stevedore, roller, farmer, harvester, or tobacco farm land lease holder, nor do I receive any other benefit, explicit or implied, from the inclusion of or review of any establishment herein named, referred to, or otherwise described. One guy did give me a free cigar. I watch the Big Bang Theory on CBS. We should have more old-school pirates. The most common commodity in this country is unrealized potential. I think Wooden Indians are cool.
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There are a ton of these episodes coming. Stay tuned!
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