High Tide is nestled in a short strip mall on Kennedy Boulevard in South Tampa, and offers everything you could ever want out of a smoke shop. It has a sort of Dr. No phone-booth appeal, appearing small and insignificant from the exterior only to reveal a surprisingly roomy interior. Normally, it takes a few moments to become accustomed to the overpowering blast of incense-saturated air in such shops. High Tide replaces this olfactory headache with a faint perfume that hangs around just enough to pique your curiosity. The store is neat and well organized, the glass selection, while not vast, is first rate and varied. And the place offers a wide assortment of other accessories and merchandise, from a wall of T-shirts illustrated with witty aphorisms and rock icons to patchwork bags, candles, Buddha statues, silver jewelry and much, much more. The employees are relentlessly nice without being annoying and are attentive even as they hang casually in the background.
High Tide, 3633 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-871-1145.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.