Way back in the day, in the 1970s & 1980s, when the "Best House" was the "Wurst House", you could pick up Rolling Papers and munchies in one stop. A "Tobacco" shop opened at 42nd & Baltimore before Christmas. I haven't stopped in, and I've never seen anyone else go in. I thought these places ran on volume and big mark-ups on low price items. There is something to be said for the honesty of a "Smoke Shop". I probably wouldn't visit and therefore might be able to avoid close contact with its denizens.
I am sometimes made uncomfortable when my trips for Chinese Take-out are punctuated by the hyper-active demands for attention from individuals or groups seeking "papers", a single "Blunt" or "munchies". The lines between Legal and Ethical and Considerate that loop through the debates on "Second Hand Smoke" (be it tobacco, pot or crack) are not so straight that I can hold to firm opinions for long. I have sympathy for those who have been too harshly criminalized, while maintaining a self centered desire to never be exposed to stale smell or smoke (both of which trigger migraines). Best! Liz Elizabeth Campion PRUDENTIAL, FOX & ROACH REALTORS, LLC 210 W. Rittenhouse Square, Suite 406 Phila, PA 19103 215-790-5653 Desk & Voicemail 215-880-2930 Cell & Emergency 215-546-9781 Shared office Fax campio...@juno,com or home.in.ph...@juno.com for Rental questions Link to Photos of available Listings and public, 'social' photos: www.PicasaWeb.google.com/CampionEF To check out all PFR and Multiple Listed Properties and to review CONSUMER NOTICE, link to www.PruFoxRoach.com Your referral is a welcome compliment. All the best in 2009 and beyond! ---------- Original Message ---------- From: "McKenzie, Wendell" <wmcken...@state.pa.us> To: "'univcity@list.purple.com'" <univcity@list.purple.com> Subject: RE: [UC] 4312 Chestnut Street HEAD Shop/ SMOKE Shop Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:48:24 -0400 Again, going back a little ways; Remember when the Chinese Food Restaurant, pressured by neighbors made an effort to keep the traffic down and they were firebombed. That's 44th & Chestnut. All to close! Take a look then decide please. No objection to the porn but have we decided that that end of UC isn't us, so it doesn't matter? I rather see the guest or visitors for Penn's Hotel to this! Then the flow of consumers this will bring. -----Original Message----- From: owner-univc...@list.purple.com [mailto:owner-univc...@list.purple.com] On Behalf Of Brian Siano Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 10:19 AM To: uc List Subject: Re: [UC] 4312 Chesnut Street HEAD Shop/ SMOKE Shop McKenzie, Wendell wrote: > > Yesterday to my surprise I parked in the lot where the strip mall is > on Chestnut between 44^th & 43^rd , to see a HEAD Shop. It already has > a risqué video. So I walked over to my Cousin's Barber Shop now > located at 4409 Chestnut St (used to be where the smoke shop is now), > and asked who had seen the Head shop and they had no idea what that > was, so that's when I realized it was an old school term. Smoke shop > that sold nothing but drug paraphernalia had closed in Phila. all but > wonderland discreetly tucked away on Walnut St Downtown. And that was > closed enough to UC & Penn's Campus to get things if you needed. > Anyway, how did a paraphernalia shop open with no one knowing in UC? I > didn't hear one word, and it opened on a Sunday I hear. The owner was > there as I wandered in he stated he was from NYC and had his licenses > in order. But I don't think so. Why is University City the first new > paraphernalia "drug" store to open in years? He had Bongs and Crack > Pipes that's it. No cigarette or Cigar. No cigarette lighter or > ashtrays. The Drug Boys were cleared back to just that one corner in > UC in front of the Chinese Food Store. Neighbors in the 90's stood on > corners to stop the heavy drug trafficking on 44^th & 45th Samson St, > the worst block south of Market. There were shootings all the time for > those that have forgotten or just arrived. I would not have walked > thru that block or either of the alleyways. Now look at the Block! I > don't think this is positive business to see opening in our community. > I can see the flow of traffic now get your pipe and drug. > There's a tobacco equipment shop at 43rd and Chester, too. And I'm perfectly fine with head shops and adult video stores. Last I checked, they're legal. And just because I don't patronize a business doesn't mean that it should be kept out of my neighborhood. ____________________________________________________________ Rock Solid Web Hosting. Click Here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTJQdR4SIWmAtKgSzFzGMBaeKV3BQq0JGPdK3HSeax2VKTzGiUyKWU/
