A movie playing on a 5-foot screen TV and a couch welcomes customers to take a break from the hustle and bustle of campus life at Exscape. Customers can watch the film while simultaneously browsing through the items on sale – tobacco pipes, various artwork, hookah, tapestries, posters, gift items and, the most popular, hand and water pipes.

‘It is a place where you can chillax,’ said Sabrina LaDue, an assistant manager at the store.

Marshall Street’s newest establishment, located at 167 Marshall St., opened in April. Business has been going smoothly since, said Katie Fives, the store’s other assistant manager.

‘It’s excellent, excellent, excellent,’ she said.

Storeowners think that there seems to be no real competition in the area. Down Under Leather Inc., another smoke shop located on South Crouse Avenue, offers no serious threat to Exscape, Fives said.

‘We have a separate niche,’ Fives said, emphasizing that Down Under Leather Inc. deals more with clothing than tobacco.

Students have also noticed the sharp contrasts between the two specialty stores, visiting each one for a different purpose.

‘ I feel like (Exscape is) trying to cater to a different demographic than Down Under. Exscape is very clean cut. Everything is brand new,’ said senior biology major Matt Wong.

Fives anticipates that the shop will only go uphill for years to come. She expects more stores will open throughout New York.

‘As far as sheer volume of things, they have a great selection, but price wise, I’ve seen cheaper places,’ Wong said.

Fives and LaDue run the shop, open Mondays through Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m.

In Exscape, there are two types of customers, Fives said. One is talkative and clueless about what they want to purchase. The other is abrupt in action, selecting their item of choice immediately. Fives enjoys catering to their needs and hopes her customers walk out with a sense of stress relief and relaxation.

On some days, irate 18-year-olds are seen walking out of the store empty-handed since they are not old enough to purchase tobacco in Onondaga County yet. Freshman students get geared up to go to Exscape thinking they are finally old enough to buy and use tobacco. They are met with a firm no from the managers.

One of the pet peeves Fives has is asking customers for a legitimate ID.

‘Unfortunately, only 19 and over can purchase tobacco,’ Fives said. She tells this to hopeful 18-year-olds a number of times throughout the day.

The store also does not sell bongs or marijuana, which customers also sometimes request. The store sells water pipes, but LaDue said she feels particularly annoyed when students mix up the terms.

There are those that are impartial to the store’s presence. Students such as junior religion major John Hager don’t smoke and therefore see no reason to visit the store.

‘I guess I don’t have any feelings about it,’ said Hager. ‘I don’t smoke, but I know kids who do, so I guess this would be a good place for them.’

Fives realizes the downside of selling tobacco is that there are health and safety risks, but believes that smoking is a personal decision young students should make on their own. It is not something she encourages and advocates, but she welcomes any who choose to come indulge in this habit.

ekim13@syr.edu

Asst. copy editor Flash Steinbeiser contributed reporting to this story

Published on November 4, 2009 at 12:00 pm