Conversation Always Seems to Light up at The Leaf tobacco Shop

Source from:  Abilene (TX) Reporter-News 05/24/2004

One might think that Bill Calame, 55, the easy-going and conversational manager of The Leaf, 202 Cypress St., has always been in the business of selling exotic cigarettes, fine cigars and pipes, but that would be wrong. The father of three grown children has been a pastor and a Franklin Middle School teacher. Now, he is convinced (medical evidence to the contrary) that life is much sweeter when it's viewed through the wispy fumes of a very, very good smoke. [img border=0 hspace="4" vspace="4" align="left" src=http://www.tobaccochina.com/english/picture/billy_d.jpg] ''Life is too short for cheap tobacco,'' he says. Calame, with his wife, Linda, and their children moved from Maine in 1985 to Abilene so he could attend the Master of Divinity program at Abilene Christian University. He earned his degree in 1988, but decided to teach rather than preach. How did a person with your background become the manager of a tobacco shop? I guess I never felt at home teaching. I was always looking for a way out. Seven years ago, David Hancock (the owner of The Leaf) approached me to work part time. I accepted, but continued teaching. Two years ago, he made an offer I couldn't turn down. How is the tobacco business faring? You're not going to get rich, but we're doing pretty well. In fact, we are planning to open an espresso bar with a walkup window, so people can come by and get their lattes. It's a fun business because of the people you meet. You get to see a side of Abilene that most people don't see. Who are your customers? Everybody. Intellectuals, farmers, county judges, the Air Force people from Dyess and, yes, Church of Christ people. All types. Why has the popularity of cigars increased? They've (the tobacco industry) made an attempt to bring more people into the market, especially women, with petite and flavored cigars, but it's not just women. There's a cotton farmer who comes to town every week and buys a flavored cigar and sits here and smokes it. There are cowboys that smoke them. What are some cigar flavors? Cherry, rum, amaretto, pina colada, mango, infused Chianti and sambuca (anise). What's the most expensive cigar in your shop? The $30 Arturo Fuente Opus X. We sold all of our Arturo Fuente $80 cigars. Are you worried that raising the cigarette tax $1 per pack, proposed by some Texas legislators to help finance public education, will hurt business? Not really. Our typical customer is not the chain-smoking type. My complaint with the entire tax situation in this state is that it's Band-Aid taxation. They never fix the problem. Most people who come here like to sit down, chat and smoke. What do you talk about? Religion, philosophy and politics and everything else. I find I do quite a bit of counseling, too, and that's something I've been trained for. This is a gathering place for many. Why is that? That's the way David (Hancock) wants it. I want this place to be like ''Cheers'' where everybody knows your name. -Ken Ellsworth Enditem