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E-cigarette store opens second location in Algonquin

Frank Angiulo says he's already helped thousands of people along the path to quitting smoking since he opened his first Vapor Hut store less than six months ago.

After seeing the success of his electronic cigarette store in Crystal Lake, he's expanded to Algonquin, just off the Randall Road corridor.

The second Vapor Hut is located at 2731 Algonquin Road, just west of Randall Road.

While the first store has a strong McHenry County-based clientele, the new store is drawing customers from southern McHenry County and northern Kane County, he said, as well as customers that come from Cook County.

At the first store, he had many requests from people in the Elgin, St. Charles and East and West Dundee areas who were asking for a closer location, so he opened the Algonquin spot.

Angiulo says in the weeks since he's been open, he's averaging about 20 customers per day, coming in to purchase e-cigarettes, flavors and accessories for those devices.

The store has become so busy Angiulo said he is considering adding locations in Schaumburg and Rolling Meadows.

He attributes his success to the full-service he offers, and to the flavors he carries for the e-cigarettes. Customers are allowed to come in and try those flavors and get just the right one for them before buying, he said.

Angiulo said he doesn't have a million different flavors like some shops do, but that is because he focuses instead on getting the best flavors in the healthiest way for his customers.

“We allow our flavors to be tested,” he said. “That reason is that it's important for someone to be properly armed with the right oils if they want to quit smoking with this product.”

He added that the customers like how the oils are made.

“We've taken the guesswork out of the regulatory process,” he said. “We have a Level 6 clean room lab that manufactures our oil with only four ingredients. We don't add alcohol or other ingredients that cause problems.

“All of the oils we have are 100 percent vegetable glycerin based and are a high-end premium oil,” he said.

In addition to trying out the oils before buying, Angiulo said he also lets the customers try out the hardware he offers, to make sure that is right for them too.

He says because of the customer service and the products he sells, people keep coming back. And because he's helped them get the right product, Angiulo estimates between 3,000 and 4,000 people from ages 18 to 90 have quit smoking.

“It's remarkable,” he said.

To reach Vapor Hut in Algonquin call (224) 678-7235.

• Amy Williams' column covers business news along the Randall Road corridor from Batavia to Crystal Lake. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or (847) 894-5036.

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