'E-Cigarette' Shop Opens Doors
ECIG Shed sells electronic cigarettes and supplies at 91 Maple Ave. in Barrington.
A tiny shop that sells “e-cigarettes” has opened in Barrington.
Ecig Shed is in its second week at 91 Maple Ave. selling electronic cigarettes and supplies to “smoke” the so-called cigarettes.
Louis Del Sesto, a Barrington native now living in Riverside, and his mother, Elaine Mancino of Barrington, have opened the shop together. She owns the building that also houses a hair salon.
“It’s an alternative device,” said Del Sesto, a former two pack a day smoker who got into the business by selling the devices to friends.
The devices have three primary components: a plastic cartridge that is the reservoir for a liquid-nicotine concentrate known as “e-juice” or “e-liquid” that is vaporized into an aerosol mist or vapor that simulates the act of smoking, the "atomizer" that vaporizes the liquid, and a battery that charges the device.
“There is no odor, it doesn’t discolor your teeth and there are no butts to dispose of,” Mancino said.
Del Sesto said he does not market or sell the electronic cigarettes as a quit-smoking device even though they were originally developed for that use.
“The FDA has not tested it to stop smoking,” he said of the federal food and drug agency. “But it can stop you from smoking while retaining the fixation of smoking. I haven’t smoked since I started using it.”
Mancino likened it to a nicotine patch – “you get the nicotine” without the other harmful elements of a cigarette.
“Whatever works to get you off tobacco,” Del Sesto said. “I think of it as a means to wean down tobacco.”
The liquid nicotine concentrate actually comes in a variety of flavors, including the taste of tobacco, menthol, vanilla, coffee, cola and a cornucopia of fruits. A “smoker” also can regulate the amount of nicotine – 11, 18 or 24 mg sizes – or choose no nicotine at all.
A 30 mg bottle costs about $17. It can last two to three weeks depending on its use, making it significantly cheaper than a few packs of cigarettes.
Del Sesto said a basic electronic cigarette kit, including the cartridge and battery, sells for about $50 to $100, depending on size of the cartridge and the holder.
Hours for the shop are 10 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday and 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday.
cricket
8:06 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
I love to support new businesses in town, but do we really want a smoke shop? When a store is selling flavored tobacco they are targeting a young customer.
Reader
11:35 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Wow, your comment is so ill informed. Did you even read the article?
It's not a smoke shop. They do NOT sell tobacco.
R. William Davis
2:27 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Cherry Vodka. Cinnamon Nicotine gum. Apricot Brandy. Do you think that maybe adults like flavors too?
William Branley
10:37 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
I am all for e cigarettes, as long as they are only used as a quit smoking tool. http://chooseecigarettes.com/
R. William Davis
7:12 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
You miss the point. It is not a smoke shop. There is no smoke. It is vapor, and it reduces the toxin inhalation from smoking, making it about 99% less harmful. And as far as targeting young customers with flavors, what about the cinnamon flavored Nicotine gum? Or cherry vodka?
What ever happened to common sense and letting people make healthier choices?
Sammy Panice
11:17 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
There is no question electronic cigarettes are a much better alternative then traditional cigarettes. There are thousands of chemical/ingredients in traditional cigarettes. I have been around the e-cig industry for a few years now and recently opened an online e-juice store. We specialize in flavors that some of you would say "appeal to children". Boom Boom Pop is a play on the popsicle Bomb Pop but we absolutely have no intention of selling to kids or appealing to them. As R. William Davis said, "...adults like flavors too".
Sammy Panice
11:17 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
While I can understand concerns about having a smoke shop in your town, lets really understand what it is before we jump to conclusions. A Vape Shop is a place for adults who are ready to quit smoking can go and be provided an alternative to the expensive, smelly habit of smoking.
Informed decisions can be made with the proper education. Just like traditional cigarettes and alcohol, it is up to parents to have conversations with their children about these decisions they WILL be faced with at some point in their life. Rhode Island is already being proactive and is passing a bill that bans the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors which I absolutely agree with, even as a business owner in the industry. No one in our community of vapers endorses the sale of electronic cigarettes to children, that would be irresponsible. We are a friendly community that invites smokers to join us and start counting their own number of smoke free days.
Day 123 for me
Vapor
12:25 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
cricket, this shop is the exact opposite of a smoke shop. smoke shops promote smoking, this shop promotes QUITTING smoking, through vaporizing. vaporizing is much healthier than smoking, its delicious, and can help you lose weight. e-cigs are a win no matter how you think about it.
children are not allowd to buy nicotine, just like children are not allowed to buy tobacco or alcohol.
the misconception that only kids like flavors is just that, a misconception. fruity flavors, popsicles, candy, cookies, and desserts are not made for children only. people dont spontaneously start disliking flavors the day they turn 18.
e-cigs are a wonderful boon to our society. theyve made quitting smoking a LOT easier than any other smoking cessation product that has ever been developed.