US: ''Vaping'' Business Coming to Downtown Shamokin

Source from:  The Shamokin News-Item 09/07/2015

A new business that caters to the popular practice of "vaping" is kicking off a revitalization of business in one section of downtown Shamokin.

Black Hills Vapes, located along Station Row at 136 E. Independence St., will hold an official grand opening Tuesday, but the company has actually been in operation since March.

"In an effort to quit smoking, I started vaping and fell in love with it," said Christopher Walters, who co-owns the store with Steve Jacobs.

"Vaping" is short for "vaporizing." Those who "vape" place a flavored liquid inside a small tank. The device then heats up the liquid, turning it into a vapor, which the user then inhales and exhales, like one would do with tobacco.

"The biggest difference between tobacco smoking and vaping is there are no combustible elements here because nothing is burning," Walters explained.

Unlike cigarettes, vaping is different because of the makeup of the vaping liquid, Walters and Jacobs said..

"The liquid is made up of four basic ingredients - water, flavoring, vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol," Jacobs said. "Not like tobacco, which has thousands of harmful chemicals in it."

For those who are trying to quit smoking, Walters said it gives the same effect as inhaling smoke.

"We have about 51 different flavors available at the store, and we continue to expand that number," Walters said. "The best thing about it is you can vape in places where they don't allow smoking indoors. The odor is not offensive and doesn't hang on your clothes."

Tuesday's grand opening will feature samples, raffles and giveaways.

Black Hills Vapes is the second business to open on Station Row in the last few months. Recently, LC Nutrition - a nutritional supplement store, opened, and there are plans for a third business opening within the next month or two.

"We had so much help to open the store and getting it ready," Jacobs said. "Our regular customers couldn't wait for us. We looked at some other locations, but we hoped we could spark some revitalization in the town, and it looks like it's working."

Black Hills Vapes will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Enditem