By Billy Queally
Mohammad Abusukhen has operated L&A Tobacco & Vape Shop on Midland Trail just outside Lexington for five years, without much competition.
Four months ago, that changed when the Tobacco Bank opened on South Main Street in downtown Lexington.
“Yeah, I think they are off to a good start and the location seems to be great,” Abusukhen said of his competition.
He said the Tobacco Bank is luring away some of his customers because of the store’s location, a short walk from the center of Lexington.
But Abusukhen is going on the offensive by opening another store, BV Tobacco & Vape Shop, on West 29th Street in Buena Vista in early February.
He said his Buena Vista store’s location will be more convenient for customers who frequented the Midland Trail shop. Abusukhen also said his BV customers will appreciate saving money on gas because they will be able to walk to his store.
Jesse Bratton, the owner of the Tobacco Bank, said his business is enjoying a good launch. But he said he wants to focus on attracting students from all of the area’s universities, not just Washington and Lee University.
There are at least three universities in the immediate vicinity: W&L and Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, and Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista.
Bratton said his store appeals to a different customer base than other tobacco and nicotine shops in Rockbridge County.
“We dedicate most of our attention to cigar products,” he said. “With that said, it would be very nice to get our name out there to students at Washington and Lee and other students in the area.”
Bratton said he’s relying on his store’s “smoke room” to attract customers. The space has padded chairs and a leather couch. There’s also an antique-looking phonograph in a corner and a fake fireplace nearby.
“The smoke room has been a huge attraction for customers to hang out in and have a cigar,” he said. “It is definitely my favorite part of the store.”
Bratton said he likes it so much that he plans to add another smoke room to the shop.
Abusukhen said about 20% of his customers are college students. He said one of the reasons he decided to open the BV store was to attract SVU students.
Bratton and Abusukhen sell similar products: both sell cigars, vaporizers, vaping pods, cigarettes and synthetic marijuana products.
Abusukhen said the products at his shop in BV will be similar to what he sells at the L&A Tobacco & Vape Shop. He also said he believes the store in BV will attract customers from outside of Rockbridge County.
“I think at the end of the day,” Bratton said, “the product and perks you offer is what will make or break your business.”