An Afternoon Ride to Tipp City
With an afternoon void of pressing issues and a short supply of pipe tobacco, I decided to visit “Kings Rook 4″, a mom and pop tobacco shop located in Tipp City, a small community 35 minutes northwest of Springfield.
Kings Rook 4, has been around for years and has garnered quite a loyal following. Leah, the white haired proprietor, is up in years and opens the store if she has nothing more immediate on her agenda, I recommend you call ahead! I first heard of the quaint tobacco shop some 8 or 9 years ago from a good client of mine, but simply had never taken the time to visit. Today was the day!
Tipp City, was established in 1840 along the Miami and Erie Canal, and boast a population of just under 10,000 residents. Commerce has blossomed on a section of Main St. now deemed the “Historic District,” and the business owners are working hard to recapture the glory days of this canal towns past.
Tipp, as it is called by the locals, is a short motorcycle ride from Springfield and is easily accessible by a variety of routes. From Springfield I chose to ride Interstate 70 west to I-75 north, then eastward on 571 which takes you straight into the heart of the Historic District. This is not the most direct way, but I wanted to open the RT up a bit and my doctor says a little highway speed is good for the soul.
After an exhilarating ride, I arrived downtown and upon securing my gear, leisurely strolled past the shops. On my right was the Grounds for Pleasure Coffeehouse, across the street, Sam and Ethel’s restaurant, next door, Browse Awhile Books, and nearby, Kings Rook 4.
Apparently my friend Scott, had called Leah earlier that morning to warn her of my impending arrival, because the moment I entered the shop she exclaimed, “You must be that Springfield fellow. “Indeed I am” I replied, and with that simple introduction we became friends.
Leah, gave me a quick tour of the store then left me to browse uninterrupted. With an adequate supply of cigars safely tucked away in my humidor this day’s focus was on securing a few new blends of pipe tobacco. One by one I removed the old tobacco canisters from the shelf and slowly sampled tobacco blends like, “Peaches and Cream,” “Nougat,” “Blue Note,” and my favorite; “Harvest Moon.” Nothing calms ones nerves better than a perfectly blended mixture of pipe tobacco. After a long while, I made my final selections and bid Leah “good day.” It was time to head home.
My brief visit to Tipp City was pleasurable and one I will definitely do again, it’s the kind of place my wife would enjoy. I can see us browsing the boutiques, sipping coffee at the outdoor cafe, and thumbing through some old books now out of print. If you should find yourself sashaying down Main St. in this little community, be certain to drop in on Leah and pick up a few ounces of “Harvest Moon” tobacco. On second thought, you probably should call ahead. 
