Vapeya, opening October 9 at 166 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side, is the city’s newest vape lounge, dedicated to providing the full “vaping experience” to vape enthusiasts. The lounge offers about 100 different “flavors” of e-liquids—like pink lemonade, grape drank and unicorn puke—from many different brands to sample free of charge, and it sells the flavors and vaporizers themselves, too. You can purchase a starter kit for $25, or go for the big guns and purchase advanced vaporizers for up to $350. Staffed with vape experts, the lounge—with a bar-like area and comfortable couches—is designed to be a social setting for those interested in “vape culture,” as well as a place where anyone can learn about vaping. Cofounder Jordy Trachtenberg was a cigarette smoker for 20 years, but quit and switched over to e-nicotine, which contains zero tobacco and is inhaled as water vapor. Now, he’ll offer anyone committing to quitting smoking a free bottle of e-nicotine if they come into the shop and turn over their pack of cigarettes. The lounge offers products with varying levels of nicotine, as well as non-nicotine options for people who’d just like to try it out. Stop by October 4 for the soft opening.
