Went into the Stewartstown Shell gas station today. When you first walk in on the left, where the cigarettes used to be in glass cases, is a supply of cigars. There is also a large case full of glass bongs and pipes...oh yeah...."For Tobacco Only” is posted on it as well as “not for sale to minors”. Is this acceptable to everyone??? Who really buys their tobacco in a pouch to put in bongs and pipes?????? Unreal…
I’ve brought it up at at least one council meeting and mentioned it to Chief Cunningham. I think he stopped in and asked them politely, nothing has changed though. Problem is, I’m not sure what they are doing is actually illegal, everyone know’s what it’s for, just like the flavored blunts, stash boxes, rolling machines, etc. that you can get at most convenience stores, including Rutter’s :( They’re all sold by the novelty truck I guess, but as with many things these days, the lines have slowly blurred, until one day, you realize they’ve pushed the limit and gone from fancy lighters and moved over the line.
If anyone can track down a complaint number or e-mail for the parent company I would be happy to complain.
It’s only acceptable because everyone looks the other way, squeaky wheel you know.
perhaps a letter from the borough council...better yet, a joint letter (no pun intended) from stewartstown, hopewell, north hopewell, east hopewell, crossroads, and shrewsbury councils and supervisors (all of which have children or constituants with children) whose residents may stop at the shell station and be exposed to what is, if not illegal, at least questionable merchandise. this letter could urge the owners to be good citizens and eliminate those items found objectionable by a large number of citizens/potential customers who live in our area. couldn’t hurt…
I dont believe there is anything illegal about what he has there. A lot of the Hookahs and such are commonly used for tobacco. I dont smoke, so I have never really been intrigued by what was there. Just saw it in passing. I dont know how much he sells, if any, and I see more kids hanging out down by the tattoo parlor than I do there.
I am always a bit concerned about the smoking. I am pretty sure there are signs all over the place about that. Kind of a stupid thing to do if you ask me. Chlorine in the gene pool.
I’m pretty sure this was brought up on here before. And no its not illegal to sell any of it, however, I do believe it should be only sold in a tobacco store (like Custom Blends). Except for enacting an ordinance, not much the council OR the Chief can do, except kindly ask for them not to sell it. The owner could just tell both the council and the Chief to beat it. Is the parking lot and the area near the tanks posted “No Loitering”?
I think I may have bought gas from there once or twice in the last year and def have NOT been inside the place in a longer time. I sure miss CR’s and thier yumy trucker subs…
perhaps a letter from the borough council...better yet, a joint letter (no pun intended) from stewartstown, hopewell, north hopewell, east hopewell, crossroads, and shrewsbury councils and supervisors (all of which have children or constituants with children) whose residents may stop at the shell station and be exposed to what is, if not illegal, at least questionable merchandise. this letter could urge the owners to be good citizens and eliminate those items found objectionable by a large number of citizens/potential customers who live in our area. couldn’t hurt…
I’m not big on telling a private business owner what legal products he may sell or may not sell. It sounds as if there are the mandated (or not mandated) warnings and disclaimers.
Rather than toothless letters from town and borough councils, perhaps the market should decide. If enough people are upset enough about it, boycott. Buy your gas, ice and candy bars somewhere else. If you want the station to stay, make sure management knows why you won’t be purchasing their products. If you don’t care if the station stays of folds, don’t tell management why they are being boycotted. If business drops, the “offending” products will be discontinued. If business is not affected, there really isn’t a large number of people who are upset.
perhaps a letter from the borough council...better yet, a joint letter (no pun intended) from stewartstown, hopewell, north hopewell, east hopewell, crossroads, and shrewsbury councils and supervisors (all of which have children or constituants with children) whose residents may stop at the shell station and be exposed to what is, if not illegal, at least questionable merchandise. this letter could urge the owners to be good citizens and eliminate those items found objectionable by a large number of citizens/potential customers who live in our area. couldn’t hurt…
I’m not big on telling a private business owner what legal products he may sell or may not sell. It sounds as if there are the mandated (or not mandated) warnings and disclaimers.
Rather than toothless letters from town and borough councils, perhaps the market should decide. If enough people are upset enough about it, boycott. Buy your gas, ice and candy bars somewhere else. If you want the station to stay, make sure management knows why you won’t be purchasing their products. If you don’t care if the station stays of folds, don’t tell management why they are being boycotted. If business drops, the “offending” products will be discontinued. If business is not affected, there really isn’t a large number of people who are upset.
Anyone remember the Sunoco right off 83 north at the Market St. west exit that sold smoking paraphernalia in the 80’s? And Recordmasters in Towson did as well.
I rarely go inside the Shell when I get gas there so, I have never noticed it. I prefer pay at the pump. I can’t stand convenience stores. They always smell weird and to me, it’s just not a convenience and too high priced. I only go in out of extreme necessity. I’d rather go in the grocery store. And the food, blech. I consider myself to be “convenience store challenged.” Lol!
One other thing, technically its not drug paraphrenalia unless there are actually drugs (or residue) in it.
I know that...I’m a police officer.
I’m happy to see quite a few responses so quickly, and I am quite impressed. I know that these are “legal” products, but we all know what they are used for. The real question is...do we want these things for sale in OUR town? Do we just tolerate these things being for sale because they are “legal”?? Sure, we could just not shop at the Shell station, but we all know that won’t make much of a difference. So what do we do? What would be most effective?
I agree with not shopping there to solve the problem. I am guilty of buying diesel there on a rare occasion, but nothing else (I think their coffee sucks).
The real question is...do we want these things for sale in OUR town? Do we just tolerate these things being for sale because they are “legal”??
I have lived in Stewartstown for 15 years now. Not long compared to some, but an eternity compared to others. And this is a constant reminder of the nature of where we live. Rather than protest what is being displayed for sale in a legal fashion, why not go after the root cause. I can pretty much guarantee that the guy running the Shell station is not selling dope. However, there are places in town where things are being sold. If you force the guy to stop selling his junk then he will simply find something else to sell. He is not the culprit here. There are plenty of other places to look.
Once again, much ado about nothing. Let’s all persecute a business owner for selling legal products because they could potentially be used for something illegal. Following that logic, I have to boycott any store that sells cigarettes, whipped cream, guns, knives, alcohol, cough medicine, fireworks, etc. Get a grip. What’s the worst case scenario? Some kids in town buy a pipe or a bong to smoke their pot instead of rolling papers? Gee they could never buy any of that anywhere else if the Shell didn’t sell it.
