Vape Paradise opened last December in Murray after the positive feedback its owners received from their Paducah, Ky., store.

“It was clear that we should open another store,” said Jordan Hines, general manager at Vape Paradise. “Murray is just far enough away that people don’t particularly enjoy the commute, but just close enough that it wouldn’t be difficult to bounce back and forth between stores if necessary.”

Vape Paradise first opened its doors in November of 2013 in Paducah.

The owners feel that vaping is the way of the future. When they opened, there weren’t any other stores that catered solely to the vaping community.

“We saw a niche in the area that needed to be filled,” Hines said. “And we’re lucky enough to have such great support from the community to continue to grow.”

Hines said people are using their vapes (e-cigs) and are finding they smell better, they are saving money and feel better.

With this support, Vape Paradise has been able to open a third store in Mayfield, Ky.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t say Vape Paradise is any more popular with Murray State students than it is any other demographic,” Hines said. “It is just as likely that a 76-year-old lady walk into our store as a 21-year-old. That is what makes our work so exciting.”

The college-age group is most often the early adopter of technology. Although vaping isn’t brand new, it is still fairly new to this region, so people in their early 20s are likely to gravitate toward it, if for no other reason than to try something new.

Hines said the college-age group is becoming more health conscious because it has witnessed the negative effects of traditional smoking on their families and friends and don’t want the same thing to happen to them.

“I went because it was one of the new vapor stores I was interested in,” said Jacob Linde, freshman from Louisville, Ky. “I walked in and there was this big open space with tables where they had different flavor caps you could try out. I think for a new business it is doing very well.”

Those who visit the store must be at least 18 and have their I.D. on hand to try sample flavors in the store.

“There is always someone new to meet and bring into the future of vaping,” Hines said. “I have had whole families of smokers come in to try something new together and they have all converted that day.”

Story by Brandon Cash,?Staff writer