Story appears in the UNC Asheville student newspaper, the Blue Banner:
As Asheville grows, the city continues supporting a substantial amount of smoke shops throughout different regions of the community.
Although it may appear that the growth of these companies in such a small vicinity would cause a lack of demand for each business, it only makes them stronger by popularity.
“As far as competition goes, we refer customers to other smoke shops if need be, and other smoke shops refer customers to us,” said Shane V., the manager for Octopus Garden who has been associated with the business since they started 15 years ago and who wishes to keep his last name anonymous. “There is no point in having animosity towards other shops when we can just as easily help each other out and see positive results that way.”
Octopus Garden continues to use this tactic while running a business, and watched their company grow from one store to five stores throughout Asheville. These stores are located on Merrimon Avenue, North Lexington Avenue, Tunnel Road and Patton Avenue.
Many of the smoke shops find it important to support local artists by selling their merchandise in their stores and see it as a way of contributing to the community.
“Almost all of our glass, beads, incense and body oils are made locally,” V. said. “We are very appreciative of the community supporting us; we wouldn’t have five stores if not for that.”
According to smoke shop employees, being in the business gives them the opportunity to stay close to musical and artistic connections.
“Working in this business has definitely allowed me to keep a strong connection with the music community,” said Debra Wells, the owner of Instant Karma, located on Lexington Avenue.
Wells moved to Asheville in 1995 in order to open Instant Karma.
“I had been touring with The Grateful Dead for years, selling merchandise in the lot (outside of the concert), and when Jerry (Garcia) died I found that opening this store was a way to anchor my loss,” Wells said. “Jerry died in August, and I bought the store in October.”
According to Wells, Asheville locals that sold merchandise with her on tour now sell their merchandise in her smoke shop.
“I have sold my shirts and fine art prints through Instant Karma for years,” said an Asheville artist who goes by “Fozzie.” “What we do is more than just business; it’s a community here in Asheville. We help each other out.”