BRIARVILLE TOBACCO PIPE REPAIR & RESTORATION

BRIARVILLE – OUR STORY

Read Our Business Story & Learn Why We’re Here

“Find a Need And Fill It” is the hallmark of all successful businesses. Another hallmark is “Turn A Problem Into An Advantage.” In late 2012, Ric Farrah, the founder of Briarville Tobacco Pipe Repair and Restoration, turned to both to become the industry leader in pipe repair.

In the early to mid-2000s, a tobacco pipe renaissance took shape on YouTube. The YouTube Tobacco Pipe Collectors channel gained subscribers and grew as pipe enthusiasts showed off their collections. Independent pipe carvers had an audience in which to show off their wares. One of those pipe carvers was Nashville broadcaster, television weatherman, and Farrah’s brother-in-law, Joe Case, a woodworking hobbyist who turned to pipe making. Over time, Joe Case Pipes began gaining popularity on the channel, and pipe smokers began to feel more comfortable doing business online.

Farrah, a longtime pipe enthusiast and hobbyist needing a real job, and Case, looking for growth and increased credibility within the industry, collaborated and decided to throw in together for a short time and add a repair side to Joe Case Pipes to test the water. The cross-promotion proved very effective, and both companies’ reach expanded. The need was there.
 
Fewer and fewer shops were doing pipe repairs. Most shops still around were sending off repairs to the few repair shops that served these dying brick-and-mortar stores. Farrah created the Briarville trademark “Pipe Repair as Close as Your Mailbox.” He hit the ‘Net doing YouTube videos, which are primarily silly but offer helpful tips in DIY pipe maintenance and where to send their smokers who need more work. The concept took off beyond any expectations. The quality of work, customer service, and ease of business led Briarville’s exploding growth and popularity.

The second generation of Briarville began in 2019 when Farrah retired and sold the concern to Rich Messineo. Rich, a retired pharmacist, joined the company in 2016 and rose to lead technician in three short years. Messineo graduated from Florida State University in 1987 and finished his pharmacy degree at Florida A&M School of Pharmacy in 1990. He is no stranger to business. From 2003 – 2010, Messineo owned and operated Hungry Trout Cigars, with three locations from Utah to Florida.

When Rich Messineo bought out Briarville, he used his chemistry knowledge to create three aftermarket products that are now available to the public. The first product, called “No Oxi Oil,” was developed to keep vulcanite from oxidizing, a problem that has plagued pipe smokers since the advent of vulcanite.
The second product is the only natural product to remove oxidation from vulcanite efficiently and effectively. The third product is a pipe cleaner and sweetener, the same that is used in the Briarville shop daily. Since purchasing Briarville, Messineo added a third profit center to his brand of cigars. Teaming up a national wholesaler, all Briarville products are now available online at TobaccoPipes.com.

As Briarville nears its 10th anniversary, it is safe to say that the once figment of Farrah’s imagination has grown to become the industry leader. Briarville serves the global community with clients worldwide. There is no looking back. Expect Messineo to continue the exceptional growth and notoriety Briarville clients have enjoyed since the advent of Pipe Repair as Close as Your Mailbox TM.

This piece is dedicated to Joe Case’s memory. His kindness and support were instrumental in developing Briarville Tobacco Pipe Repair and Restoration.