Brisk business at new vape store and lounge in Rock Hill
The Kure Vaporium and Lounge in the Manchester Village Shopping Center opened last weekend, with start-up sales brisker than any of its other stores around the country, according to the company.
The vape shop at 1910 Cinema Drive, Suite 106, is the first Kure Corp. franchise to open in South Carolina, with a second planned for Columbia. Kure is one of the fastest growing vape companies in the U.S., with more than 30 other locations around the country.
Customers at the new location can expect a wide variety of customizable vaping products and juices, as well as food and beverages, in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere.
The store is an exciting development for area vapers getting their first look last week.
“When I first heard Kure was opening up in Rock Hill, I was very pleased, having visited several of their other locations,” said customer Vinnie Bivone. “Kure is the type of place you can go to buy the newest gear or just hang out. The atmosphere and custom-mixed juice are second-to-none, and the staff isn’t just out to make a sale.”
Kure Chairman Martin Sumichrast characterized his company as “the Starbucks of vapes,” emphasizing “It’s a clean place where you’re welcome to hang out. That’s what sets us apart from our competitors.”
Kure joins just 3 other vape shops that advertise operations in Rock Hill.
“Just a week after the official opening, Rock Hill is Kure’s fastest growing store out of the gate, which gives us especially high hopes for our Columbia franchise launching late next month,” Trayce Zimmermann, a company spokesperson said.
For Sumichrast, moving into the South Carolina market was a no-brainer.
“Rock Hill is a great market ... [and] this is an unbelievable spot,” he said.
The move comes at a time when forthcoming Food and Drug Administration regulations on the vaping industry may change the way the industry functions.
At least 48 states and 2 territories currently prohibit sales of electronic cigarettes or vaping/alternative tobacco products to minors, according to National Conference of State Legislatures.
Previously, the FDA regulated cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco, but earlier this year the agency finalized a rule which extends its authority to include the regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (such as e-cigarettes and vape pens), all cigars, hookah (waterpipe) tobacco, pipe tobacco and nicotine gels, among others.
Sumichrast isn’t worried about the pending oversight.
“We built the company expecting this [regulation] to happen. We’ve planned for it,” said Sumichrast.
What will new rules mean?
The Food and Drug Administration’s authority will soon expand to include the regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (such as e-cigarettes and vape pens), all cigars, hookah (waterpipe) tobacco, pipe tobacco and nicotine gels, among others. The agency considers the new regulations to be a milestone in consumer protection. Going forward, the FDA will be able to:
▪ Review new tobacco products not yet on the market;
▪ Help prevent misleading claims by tobacco product manufacturers;
▪ Evaluate the ingredients of tobacco products and how they are made; and
▪ Communicate the potential risks of tobacco products.
The new rule goes into effect on August 8, 2016.
Provisions and Requirements
The final rule will subject all manufacturers, importers and/or retailers of newly-regulated tobacco products to any applicable provisions related to tobacco products in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and FDA regulations, including:
▪ Registering manufacturing establishments and providing product listings to the FDA;
▪ Reporting ingredients, and harmful and potentially harmful constituents;
▪ Requiring premarket review and authorization of new tobacco products by the FDA;
▪ Placing health warnings on product packages and advertisements; and
▪ Not selling modified risk tobacco products (including those described as “light,” “low,” or “mild”) unless authorized by the FDA.
In addition, there are several provisions aimed at restricting youth access to tobacco products, including:
▪ Not allowing products to be sold to persons under the age of 18 years (both in-person and online);
▪ Requiring age verification by photo ID;
▪ Not allowing the selling of tobacco products in vending machines (unless in an adult-only facility); and
▪ Not allowing the distribution of free samples.
This story was originally published June 25, 2016 at 3:04 PM with the headline "Brisk business at new vape store and lounge in Rock Hill."