by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The Tobacco Shop, a Downtown landmark at 17 N. Ocean St. between Bay and Forsyth streets since the 1950s, is closing at the end of the week.
Thomas Spencer’s aunt, Gwen Martino, started working in the store for the original owners when she was 16 years old and purchased it in 1982. When Martino died in 1982, Spencer and his daughter, Natasha, took over the shop, considered the oldest continually operating tobacco store in Northeast Florida.
Everything is for sale at significant discounts, including the inventory in the walk-in humidor and the selection of pipes and pipe tobacco.
Even the furniture, fixtures and advertising art are for sale, some of which are bona fide antiques.
Now that he won’t be opening the store every day, Spencer has other plans. “I’m going to do some fishing and also tutor math at Eugene Butler Middle School,” he said.
“But you’ll still see me around the neighborhood.”
356-2466