Bellingham’s Newest Niche Store Features Unique Products and Community Spirit

It’s been a very difficult year to open a business, but Bellingham’s The Smoking News has just reached its first birthday. Owner Roberta Mastrogiovanni couldn’t be happier.

“This is an amazing accomplishment, given 2020 being such a challenging business climate,” she says. “We’ve tried to embrace it the best we can, and we’re just so happy to be here in Bellingham.”

The Smoking News is a convenience store that specializes in niche items such as tobacco, disc golf, and CBD products. It is the sister store to The Corner News, Mastrogiovanni’s first shop that opened twenty years ago in Keene, NH.

Roberta Mastrogiovanni is delighted with her store’s success. “Because I’ve been in this business for 20 years, we feature some unique products. A small specialized store like ours has a whole different vibe.”

This year was a challenging one in which to launch a business, as you can imagine, but The Smoking News has not only weathered the year but thrived.

The Smoking News is tucked into a small plaza near Urban Air. “We’re a bit off the beaten path,” says Mastrogiovanni. “But we’ve got some wonderful neighbors in the plaza, including some great restaurants.” 

This makes The Smoking News something of a hidden treasure to those who encounter it for the first time. “Everyone who stops by is in awe,” says Mastrogiovanni. “We’ve worked hard to make the place welcoming, with a super-knowledgeable staff and a lot of really unique products.”

As the name implies, The Smoking News features, among other things, an array of tobacco products. “We have direct relationships with all the major cigar brands, so we can feature fine imported cigars,” says Mastrogiovanni. “We carry everything from traditional old school tobacco, with different blends and papers so you can roll your own cigarettes. That alone can save someone thousands of dollars every year.”

A cigar lover who’s smoked the same kind of cigar every day for fifteen years doesn’t have to worry: “We’re flexible enough that I have access to many types of tobaccos and accessories. Tell us what you need, and we can special order it.”

They’ve also started selling disc golf equipment, which doesn’t seem like a natural pairing for a smoke shop, and yet, has been a hit. “It’s really popular in the Franklin and Bellingham area,” says Mastrogiovanni. “We sell the discs, the backpacks, and all the supplies that go along with that.” 

The Smoking News also supplies CBD products. “We have a huge inventory,” says Mastrogiovanni. “We’ve been involved with selling and educating about CBD since it became a product on the market in in the last several years. Our prices are fair, and we have a wide variety.”

The staff are trained in the uses of all their products, and this is especially helpful to those who are just learning about CBD or cannabis. “If you go to a dispensary, you might not find all the tools you need,” says Mastrogiovanni. “New users may not feel comfortable asking about it, but our staff will explain the products in a way they’ll understand.”

The mix of products means customers of all ages visit the store. “We absolutely card everyone who comes through the door,” says Mastrogiovanni. “We have signs up that everyone gets carded, even if they’re forty. No exceptions. That’s the law, and it’s clear.”

Finally, The Smoking News features a stunning selection of glassware, such as glass pipes. Mastrogiovanni says, “I follow a lot of glassblowers, so we carry an impressive selection. We sell a lot of glass that’s locally blown by high-end artists in New England.” They’re always looking for new artists to feature, too, even asking for recommendations on their website.

Once a month, The Smoking News hosts a Cigar Lovers’ Night Out. “That’s been amazing,” says Mastrogiovanni. “We take appropriate precautions, of course, but we meet a lot of cool people who come to these gatherings to learn about different cigars. Some of the distributors will showcase their different lines, and then we’ll feed everyone and hold a raffle.” 

Laughing, she adds, “It’s become a real neighborhood event.”

Looking into the future, Mastrogiovanni sees her customer base expanding far outside of Bellingham as more people discover the unique combination of products at The Smoking News.

“I love the neighborhood feel of Bellingham,” she says. “We have a good group of people.” 

For more information or to sign up for The Smoking Newsletter, go to https://www.thesmokingnews.com. You can also check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheSmokingNews.