David P. Ehrlich of Boston

After a walk in Boston last night we ended up at the skeletal remains of Boston tobacconist/former pipe maker David P. Ehrlich, now housed within Churchills Cigar Bar, near Faneuil Hall. They're not on the web. No longer making or stocking pipes. They have focused on cigars (follow the cash!). Things are not the same for the pipe smokers' side of the business.

Does anyone here remember this venerable institution? I have spoken with the owner, attempting to gauge his interest in selling online. Maybe even to sell the name, etc. No interest thus far.

Can we convince this owner (who inherited the busines) to capitalize on the 100 year old name and try an online presence, or am I just "pipe dreaming?"

Never been there, but from what I've heard, much of Ehrlich's pipe-related stock was transferred over to Leavitt and Pierce in Harvard Square. Interestingly, I recently picked up an unsmoked Ehrlich pipe from LJ Peretti when I was digging through some of their old house brand pipes. How it got in there, even the owner wasn't sure...

Doctor Mabuse said:

Never been there, but from what I've heard, much of Ehrlich's pipe-related stock was transferred over to Leavitt and Pierce in Harvard Square. Interestingly, I recently picked up an unsmoked Ehrlich pipe from LJ Peretti when I was digging through some of their old house brand pipes. How it got in there, even the owner wasn't sure...

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Yes, that seems to be he case as both stores are owned by the same family (Macdonald brothers). From a marketeer's perspective they're letting the Ehrlich brand, 100+ years old and storied as it was, die on the vine. There is still some chatter about memories of the store (it closed a few years back) and it all recalls wonderful memories of the store and famous proprietary blends. Even as the demand for pipe tobacco shrinks, an internet presence would certainly offer opportunity for them.

It seems a sorry story of what happens when a new generation "inherits without merits..." Some seize and embrace the opportunity, some don't.

FINE, then... Erlich's closed! I'm going to shlep into Cambridge (Harvard Square) to the remaining "sister" store, Leavitt & Pierce, since the venerable institution is too archaic to maintain a working internet presence. Speaking of archaic... I guess I'm the one still imbibing in the occasional bowl of tobacco...