Carmel Pipe Shop

Cute little shop with a reasonable inventory given its size. Twice now I’ve been surprised at the indifference shown toward their customers. If you know what you want, fine. But if you’re looking for a suggestion or opinion, they really don’t have the time for you.

I’ll start this review off by saying this shop is very nice and the owner obviously knows his stuff.
The thing that makes his place hard is, as a novice/​new smoker, my initial interaction with the staff was not favorable. I attempted to make myself vulnerable and let him know I was new to smoking and needed some guidance. This could have been a beautiful moment for a seasoned smoker to pass on valuable knowledge and tradition to a new generation and instead I was made to feel… Well stupid really. My questions were met with laughs and that sort of elitist attitude that makes you feel small.
As our interaction continued, it got better but I left without purchasing anything and would not return.
All that to say, a great shop if you know your stuff, if not, tread carefully. This place could turn you off to pipe smoking if you’re not careful.

Sometimes I just get the craving and when I smelled delicious pipe tobacco, I couldn’t help it. I stepped in and started talking to the owner, who’s been in Carmel since the 60’s. Nice guy. His little shop is just that, very small, but has the necessities. I got a pack of smokes. American Spirit, cause I was feeling organic and farm raised and possibly a little vegan, hippie, liberal, happy cow, grass fed, natural, hormone free. I’m not sure if I conquered that, but nonetheless… I left happy and into a misty carmel morning. I lit my smoke, smiled, inhaled, and instantly got the satisfaction I was looking for… kinda like the Marlborough Man (back in the day style) or Ol’e Clint Eastwood, when he would pistol whip someone.

Back in March my wife and I came in, I was very impressed with this shop and its proprietor, he was very helpful in choosing some cigars for me. I am not only a cigar smoker, I am a pipe smoker as well, I noticed he had some pipe stands, but none that I was interested in. After talking Doug stated that he had others, but not in the shop. My wife was going to be back through Carmel in a few days and he would have them then for her to look at. He was excellent and so is the shop! Thanks!

I’m not a smoker, but I just had to pop in here when I spotted the shop for curiosity purposes — and I’m glad we did! The shop is very small, but well appointed — there is wealth of goods in a tiny space! Cases filled with pipes, a wall covered with cigars, different types of tobaccos — and a proprietor nearby who lets you explore. I was amused to see diffierent brand-​name flavors of cigars — even in the classy world of smoke shops, a little tacky must fall. :)
The shop offered a fun exploration, and reminded me of my grandpa — open your mind and stop on in!

There are few real tobacconists left on this planet and the artful culture of quality smoking is nearly lost. But thanks to places like this the spirit is still alive. Family run by people that know what they are talking about. A great selection of all things pipe or cigar. I love it!

Doug is the best… he knows his business and is so kind and patient to deal with… great little store in Carmel… great selection and and I love going in there and having Doug help me select special gifts for the specials cigar loves in my life… outstanding…

I had an incredible experience here.
Doug, the gentleman working at the Carmel Cigar Shop, was sweeping the front sidewalk as I walked up to the store (thought to self; very old school and classy). He stopped as I approached, smiled broadly, and welcomed me inside.
I explained that while I was not new to the world of nice pipes, it had been some time since I had purchased any «new» pieces, or bought any new tobaccos. Doug listened patiently, asked me a few pertinent questions (i.e., what shapes do you like? what materials? what finishes? what is your budget?), and then gave me a quick overview of everything in the store. He then encouraged me to open up every case, hold every pipe, and really get a feel for what I liked — rather than simply tell me what he likes. His philosophy seems to be; it’s going to be your pipe, buy what you like, and then smoke it, blissfully.
My budget was somewhere around $ 150 for a new briar pipe. I was actually a little surprised to find dozens of pipes well within my budget (this is Carmel, after all). They have a bit of everything, from corn-​cobs to Dunhill’s, and every conceivable and/​or desirable tool. After a quick review of the walls and a few cases, I was initially attracted to a few Savinelli and Peterson pipes, but then I noticed a dozen or so hand-​made pipes by Randy Wiley (USA).
My choice was down to a very nice Savinelli and one of the Randy Wiley’s, and that is when Doug pushed me in the right direction. The Wiley is «cooler» we agreed (hand-​shaped, oiled-​finish), and I decided to buy it. Then the conversation turned to dampers and tobacco. Doug pointed out that Randy Wiley’s son (Nolan) makes some excellent dampers, and I added one to my growing pile. Next came tobacco, Doug helped me select a tin of Escudo Navy De Luxe and a tin of Dunhill Flake, two standards (though anything you could imagine is available).
Did I blow my budget? Ohhhh heck yeah I did. Did I have a great time, learn a lot, and end up with something much better than I’d expected. YES!
Doug is a throw-​back to customer service that never really existed (*but you wish it did). He was welcoming, easy-​going, funny, articulate, knowledgeable, and he sincerely loves a good pipe (and if you really wanna spark up a conversation, ask him about collectible lighters and old Dunhill’s). I think this guy could banter with the best of them, and I’m Irish ;-)
I will return to this store time and time again. Maybe to just hang-​out in the hope that Doug (or some random passer-​through) will tell an hour– long story, while I sit back, listening and occasionally nodding, slowly drawing on my pipe.
UPDATE 5÷1÷12
I’ve been back many, many, many times. Can’t get enough of this place.

I’m not a big cigar smoker… But if I was, I would totally enjoy this tiny cigar/​pipe shop in Carmel. The shop is smaller than my master bathroom and squeezing 5 – 6 guys in there was interesting. I don’t know how much more testosterone you can fit into a small space but we definitely tried. Cigars, pipes, knifes, and other manly stuff… Oh, and 6 – 7 adult men bonded by a common interest.
The owner was quite amusing and ended up giving us a free cutter, lighter, and a cigar. Now, this is a man’s shop. It’s not pretty and it’s not well decorated. But, it’s efficient and it gets the job done.

Would’ve liked to review this shop but it was closed in the middle of the day with no hours posted… Frustrating as I would’ve liked to check out the custom cigars…

Wow. Hie thee thither, imbibers of the noxious weed!
I’m an occasional (OK, almost-​never) pipe smoker; I also enjoy cigars (mainly those given to me by others). It’s a wee store, but with all you need.
Pop in if you smoke, or even if you don’t, and inhale the lovely atmosphere.

I found this shop when on a holiday to Carmel. It is tiny and wonderful. I found a Savinelli Punto Oro sandblast to purchase, plus a tin of Dunhill’s London Mixture. I plan to stop in each time I visit Carmel. The proprietor is friendly and knowledgeable about his products.

An aesthetic, pleasurable trip… whether just copping a sniff to remind you of the smell of your grandpa or favourite uncle, or possibly to have a guilty treat while on vacation.
This is worth a trip… especially if you are of the oft reviled tobacco smoker’s ilk. It will feel like a respite, to say the least. Classic, fantastic… yay.

The Carmel Pipe Shop has been around for over 30 years in this same location and they have great cigars. With all the well to do vacationers and golfers around, one can only assume they do a hell of a business out of this tiny little shop. The Carmel Reserve is a great buy which are custom cigars made just for the Carmel Pipe Shop. If your looking for Tobacco products, this is your one stop shop!

In the olden days, when I was a pipe smoker, I would order my tobacco by mail from this place. If you are a pipe or cigar smoker, I recommend this place highly, for quality and wide selection. Me, I have been clean for years, so I don’t go there anymore, except to look, slowly inhale, and remember.