Note to store proprietors:  If customers walk into your establishment and the first thing they notice isn't your stock but the overwhelming stench of stale cigarettes -- you're smoking too much.

This happened to me twice in recent weeks.  In a bigger city, I wouldn't visit these stores again but in the Keys, unfortunately, they are my only choices for these particular needs if I want to buy locally.

Considering one of the places sells fabric, I'm going above and beyond in my support of local business.  If I end up placing an order, I might request that the finished product come with a free bottle of Febreze.

I don't understand why even the most confirmed, stubborn smoker doesn't get that forcing customers to breathe poor quality, gag-inducing air is bad for business.  I didn't want to spend one more second than absolutely necessary in either shop.  Unfortunately, I can't hold my breath for ten minutes, nor do I own a portable gas mask. 

Maybe next time I should borrow a friend's scuba regulator and air tanks.