Bellezia

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Compilation, courtesy Doug Valitchka

Bellezia Tobacco Shop is a tobacconist in Buffalo/Amherst New York. It was started by Milton Kalnitz in the 1970's, and named by his son, in part. As Kalnitz put it, “Pipes, to me, are kind of romantic,” he said. “I asked my son to find a nice romantic name in Spanish. I found belleza, which means beautiful. I learned I couldn’t use that name, though, because it was already being used. So, I added a ‘I’ and took Bellezia, which actually means beautiful aunt in Italian.” Depriest, Keaton T. "Bellezia Tobacco Shops reopens at new location with larger product selection." Amherst Bee 29 Aug 2012 [1].

Milton Kalnitz is a master pipemaker who continues to make pipes from century old briar in the store. He has crafted pipes since the late 1960's. During that time he personally made pipes for the president, actors, athletes and dignitaries around the world. He used only the finest Grecian plateau and each pipe is a one of a kind hand crafted masterpiece and many are highlighted with a 14K gold dot on the stem. He only makes about 50 per year and so the value of these can only go up due to the limited supply.

Kalnitz is also the father of pipemaker Brian Kalnitz, known as the house pipemaker of Smokers Haven of the Southtowns in West Seneca, New York.