Pik Nik Convenience Store & Smokeshop

Pik Nik Convenience Store & Smokeshop is one of those spots near downtown San Antonio that does more than its name lets on. Yes, it's a convenience store, and a well-stocked one at that, but tucked in with the drinks and the food counter is a real smoke shop selection: vapes, disposable vapes, e-liquid and vape juice, cigars, hookah and shisha, glass pipes and water pipes, tobacco pipes, rolling papers, cigarettes, and the accessories to go with all of it. Locals will tell you the staff is a big part of why they keep coming back.

Jack in particular gets mentioned a lot, folks talk about the fist bumps and the genuine welcome he gives regulars, which matters on a rough day. The word around town is the prices here are fair, both on the smoke shop side and at the little food counter, where the tacos and burgers have their fans even if quality can depend on who's cooking that day. It's a hole in the wall in the best sense, don't judge it by the outside.

Inside you'll find drink options you won't find at other stores, plus a genuinely wide selection for a shop this size. Reputation-wise it's holding decent standing in the neighborhood, and most people leave satisfied with both the service and the value. We'll be honest, it's not unanimous.

A few folks have grumbled about the building needing a cleanup given its location in a historic area, and there have been complaints about hours not always matching what's posted, so it's worth calling ahead if you're making a special trip.