From Broad and South streets to Front Street, roughly 17 smoke shops line the corridor, selling everything from rolling papers and tobacco products to electronic nicotine devices, hookahs and paraphernalia. These stores have steadily multiplied over the years, filling vacancies and becoming one of the most common business types along the city’s iconic South Street.
Yes, smoke shops have certainly become a fixture of South Street’s economy. And neighbors in Bella Vista are taking notice.
“After the fire of the Nourish restaurant, and the tragic demolition of the historic building there at 7th and South, new construction could have attracted a prime tenant, but of course, it’s yet another headshop,” said Eugene Desyatnik, President of The Bella Vista Neighborhood Association. “Between 9th and 10th streets, also on the Bella Vista side, off of South Street, we had a juice bar. Across the street was a yoga studio, and the healing arts collective practiced wellness.
“We have gone from healthy to unhealthy choices,” Desyatnik continued. “Gone are the wellness establishments, which thrive when they operate near each other as a virtuous circle of wellness and then here come the predatory head shops.”
Smoke shops surge
Along South Street, smoke shops range in quality, from basic and convenient bodega smoke shops (selling food with smoking paraphernalia), to smoke shops that sell glassware, smoking paraphernalia, nicotine products and snacks, to the high end smoke shops that sell expensive glassware and paraphernalia.
All of these businesses are vying for a share of the corridor’s economy while facing record-high operating costs. Even in cases where multiple shops share the same owner, competition remains fierce.
Why they keep coming
The Joint, a recently opened upscale smoke shop at Sixth and Bainbridge streets near South Street, began operating in January 2025 but has faced a series of challenges since its debut. The business is still navigating zoning requirements and other regulatory hurdles, highlighting how opening a shop may be straightforward, but keeping it running smoothly can be far more complicated.
However, according to Desyatnik, opening a smoke shop geared toward quick profits is relatively simple — the products don’t spoil, and profit margins are solid. Coupled with steady foot traffic in the area, those factors have fueled the rapid growth of such stores in recent years. Owners of these shops that can manage to get their hands on a vacancy in the corridor or neighborhood nearby see the community as a gold mine, Desyatnik said.
