Smoke Central

Smoke Central in Melbourne, Victoria, is your typical local tobacconist that’s been getting mixed reviews from customers lately. The shop keeps itself well-stocked with all the usual suspects you’d expect to find at a tobacconist: cigarettes, rolling papers, lighters, and other smoking accessories. Some visitors reckon it’s got everything they need, while others… well, let’s just say experiences can vary.

When it comes to service, it’s a bit of a lucky dip, if I’m being honest. Some folks have had absolutely ripper experiences, saying the staff went above and beyond to help them out. But then you’ve got others who’ve copped what they describe as pretty ordinary treatment. One regular customer mentions they shop there all the time and get outstanding service, so maybe it just depends on who’s behind the counter that day.

They’re pretty generous with their trading hours, which is handy if you’re someone who needs to pop in after work or on weekends. They’re open from 10 in the morning right through until 10 at night Monday to Thursday, and they even stay open an hour later on Fridays and Saturdays (until 11pm). Sundays they’re back to the 10am-10pm schedule. That’s pretty decent for a suburban tobacconist, if you ask me.

For payment, they take all the usual methods – EFTPOS, cards, and cash, so you won’t need to make a special trip to the ATM. The shop seems to maintain itself well enough, though opinions about the overall experience tend to bounce around a bit. Look, it might not be the fanciest tobacconist you’ve ever been to, but it gets the job done, and some regulars swear by it. Just maybe go in with an open mind and form your own opinion.