NORMAN — Forty years ago Robert Summers founded Royal Pipes and Tobaccos Ltd., 105 E. Boyd St., because Norman didn’t have a proper tobacconist. Liberty Drug Store had a small selection, but the OU personnel director was from Chicago and used to the big shops there such as Iwan Ries and Co.
“Being an avid pipe smoker, Dad wanted to open a pipe shop,” his son Jared Summers said. “He wanted it to be a place where people could gather, smoke their pipes and discuss politics.”
Jared began working in the shop full-time after he came back from the service in 1977. He took over ownership and operation of the store several years ago after his dad passed away. Summers also runs Plantations, another tobacco shop in Sooner Mall. At the Boyd location that vision for a place of congregation literally remains in spades.
“Guys come in every morning and play a game of spades or dominoes,” Summers said. “We also still like to talk politics and do.”
Others aspects of the business have changed radically over the decades.
“In 1970 it was almost strictly a pipe and pipe tobacco shop,” Summers said. “We had maybe two boxes of cigars on a shelf.” Today Royal has one of the largest walk-in cigar humidors in Oklahoma. It is cedar-lined, with temperature and humidity tightly controlled to preserve the inventory’s freshness.
“Because of demand, we have doubled the size of our humidor four times over the last several years,” Summers said. They have in stock hundreds of brands that are mostly handmade varieties of stogies from the finest firms in Dominican Republic, Honduras and Trinidad. Expensive cigars such as the Zino Platinum Scepter Chubby may cost north of $25 each.
“A good stick will change character flavor-wise with each draw,” Summers said. “We try to get the best product for our customers and usually do.”
He said customers frequently ask if their stock of Cuban cigars is under the counter. “We don’t carry any,” Summers said. “I want to keep my license.”
He said the quality of cigars in his shop is often better than what comes out of Havana because of lower quality control and over-used soil on the island.
Royal still sells pipes and custom-blended pipe tobaccos, however. Often their customers are fraternity brothers cultivating the sophisticated image of a pipe-smoking gentleman.
“A Savinelli Autograph pipe made from Sardinian briar is our most expensive at $600,” store manager Bill Cosby said. “But we also carry a Washington, Mo.-made corn cob pipe for $3.95.”
Royal also sells meerschaum pipes with the bowls made from a soft white mineral the best of which is found only in Turkey.
“Pipes are associated with the thinking man,” Summers said. He showed me a framed black and white photo of his dad circa 1960s. The distinguished gentleman in suit and tie with pipe in hand is seated at a writing desk with stationery, correspondence and books laid out before him.
Summers has seen many of his neighboring merchants come and go on Campus Corner in the past three generations.
“We watched Sarkeys Energy Center being built for 13 years,” he said. “Lucky Monkey hair stylist, Monique’s Caribbean Restaurant, Friends Records, Wheeler Dealer, Outback Outfitters and Tod Dogs (hot dog shop) were all next door at one time.”
Summers is rightly proud of the fact that he has gainfully employed many people over the years, some for well over a decade. Currently his payroll is eight employees. “Sometimes I’ve kept employees when I didn’t need them, but people need jobs,” he said. Both his sons currently work full-time at the Plantations store.
Summers has taken the opportunity of Monique’s exit in the east part of the building to add a full-service bar and restaurant. He has partnered with Carl McCoy who will be the general manager of the new operation.
“We’re going to start with typical bar food including daily specials,” McCoy said. “Brisket and pulled pork sandwiches, hot links, Buffalo wings and nachos.” They intend to gauge their customers’ preferences and adjust the menu accordingly. The former occupant’s gear was replaced with all new kitchen equipment. With necessary licensing currently on track they expect the food and beverage business to be open Sept. 2, serving seven days a week. Smoking will be permitted in the restaurant.
“We’ll still be Royal Pipes and Tobaccos but this side will be called the Cohiba Lounge,” Summers said. “General Cigar Co. commissioned us to be a Cohiba Lounge, one of three in the U.S., because they believe in this little place.”
