Mystic Treasures offers e-cigs, unique gift items in Coal Grove

COAL GROVE – A thin stream of smoke emanated from nag champa incense next to three issues of Rolling Stone magazine on a glass-top coffee table in the lounge area of Mystic Treasures in Coal Grove.

“I wanted to open a place like this two years ago and didn’t,” Penny Nichols, owner, said. “There were no e-cig stores around back then and now it seems they’re everywhere.”

Nichols quit smoking with the help of e-cigs and wanted to help others do the same.

“We started this business really at the Hillbilly Flea Market in Russell,” Steve McGranahan, Nichols’ fiancé who works at the store, said. “We did really well over there and thought it would be a good business to have.”

A colorful mural painted by Jerry Johnson, of Greenup, adorns the side of the building of Mystic Treasures at 516 Marion Pike in Coal Grove. Although the business primarily deals in e-cigs and flavored vapors, other items available include incense, aroma oil, hipster jewelry, Ed Hardy purses and complete tattoo kits.

Nichols is sole owner of Mystic Treasures and it is not her first small business; she previously owned and operated gift shops in Ashland and Wheelersburg. Mystic Treasures opened a little more than a month ago.

“The first two weeks we did fairly well,” Nichols said. “A lot of people came in because they wanted to know what kind of store it is.”

What type of store it is and what it soon will be, however, are different things. Nichols plans to add a bistro to the business within the next month.

“We will start offering soups, sandwiches and coffee,” Nichols said. “Steve is an excellent cook who makes great soups and chili. All the sandwiches will be on homemade bread.”

Mystic Treasures already offers free Wi-Fi Internet.

“It will be a bistro, coffee shop and Internet café,” McGranahan said.

Nichols said she is considering adding medicinal herbs and teas in the future as well.

Mystic Treasures is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.