Tobacco store closing

After 15 years, the Tobacconists of Raleigh will close its doors today. The premium pipe and cigar store has become known as the "Cheers of cigar stores."

Owner Debbie Shoulars said it was tough to close the business started by her father, Andy Curcio, especially because many customers have become friends.

"We closed the store a year and a half ago when we got married because everyone was coming to the wedding," she said. "We closed it when my mother passed because these guys were the pallbearers."

Concerns about the health risks of smoking caused business to decline, Shoulars said.

"I'm not angry," she said. "I'm sort of sad. But it's just time."

The store, at 3901 Capital Blvd., is in the Tarrymore Square shopping center. Shoulars is expecting a lot of visitors and reminiscing today. She said the store will be open from 9 a.m. until "whenever."

In Raleigh's Cameron Village: Cherry Modern Design is moving its Glenwood South store to the old Bath & Body Works spot and will open in April. ... The old Cameron Clothing space will become Swoozie's in early summer.

Other items: Fast Lube Plus is open at 3696 Chapel Hill Road in Morrisville. ... In Raleigh's Seaboard Station, the revamped warehouse area off Peace Street, Flanders Art Gallery is open. ... I Candy, a women's shoe and apparel store, opened at 3611 Spring Forest Road in Raleigh. ... Shades of Splendor, a window treatment showroom specializing in Hunter Douglas products, is open at 254 Southtown Circle in Rolesville.

Beginning this week, there will be a new feature in the Retailing column.

As many of you know, I also write an online blog called Taking Stock, which I update daily with good deals, shopping stories and breaking retail news.

There can be overlap between the blog and this column. As I strive to post more news online, I don't want people who read only the column to miss out.

So, each week, I'll take some space here to recap and update the best news items from my blog.

The recap will be only part of each week's column, so there will still be plenty of news here that has not appeared on the blog.

Conversely, there is lots on the blog -- especially about coupons and bargains -- that will never appear in the column.

I hope you'll be encouraged to read the blog and the column and will continue to share tips and ideas for both.

From Taking Stock this week:

* DaVinci's Pork Store is open at 3325 Rogers Road in Wake Forest. Owners Lisa and Anthony Gallo are New York natives and boast many varieties of fresh pork, steaks and sausage. It's closed Sundays.

* At Raleigh's Crabtree Valley Mall, Old Navy will open between the new Best Buy and Barnes & Noble in June.

* Auto Bell car wash is open in Fuquay-Varina at 8113 Fayetteville Road.