[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]This is the second part in a series featuring local Madison businesses.
Pipes from around the world, dozens of Halloween costumes and assorted gargoyle statues are just some of the products you might find at The Pipefitter.
The Pipefitter, one of the city's oldest establishments located at 517 State St., opened 34 years ago, soon after co-owner Greg Hinkley left the University of Wisconsin in 1972. Since then, Hinkley and Pat — both his wife and business partner — have watched their business prosper.
"I was a pipe smoker and pipe collector," he said. "The Pipefitter's intention was to be the largest pipe store on campus, basically to be a pipe museum."
Although The Pipefitter's sales initially mainly consisted of tobacco products, its inventory has grown to include clothing, posters, sculptures and more. Today, the store is well known for its wide assortment of gag gifts, including over 100 different t-shirts.
According to Hinkley, there is only one requirement for an item to be sold in his store.
"It has to be humorous," he said. "We want to sell gifts that will make you laugh."
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, who presides over The Pipefitter's district, said the store has done just that.
Its unusual gifts have "brought a lot of smiles to people's faces over the years," he added.
The Pipefitter also played a crucial role in developing the university's October tradition, as it was the first store to sell Halloween merchandise on campus, Hinkley said.
"For years, The Pipefitter has really been a destination point for students and others looking for a cool Halloween costume," Verveer said. "When you think of The Pipefitter, you think of Halloween."
Although the establishment may be best known for its festive holiday attire, Verveer said it is also "known for its beautiful glass work, its smoking accessories, which are 'wink-wink' for tobacco purposes only, as well as its cool, unusual, out-of-the-ordinary types of gifts."
While the merchandise has changed over the years, its reputation as one of the largest tobacco retailers in the area has not.
"We still have a large tobacco section," Hinkley said. "We sell 30 different brands of cigarette rolling paper, 20 brands of pipe tobacco and about 100 brands of cigarettes."
Clearly, The Pipefitter is not like any other store, but some say its charm lies in its individuality.
Susan Schmitz, president of Downtown Madison Inc., a local organization that evaluates the health and vitality of the downtown area, reinforced such individuality.
"The Pipefitter is such a fun store to go into because you won't find some of the things you see at The Pipefitter anywhere else," she said. "It's always been very, very unique. It's a great example of why State Street is as cool as it is."
Verveer agreed, calling The Pipefitter the "epitome" of the State Street culture and its popularity, which includes a variety of locally owned group of shops, restaurants and bars.
Perhaps part of The Pipefitter's success stems from Hickley's passion for the city of Madison.
"I love this campus," he said. "My whole life revolves around State Street, and to me, that's a good feeling."