Carl Stadler, owner of Roll ‘Em Here Tobacco, with one of the machined rolled cigarettes rolled in the machine in his store.

The RYO (Roll Your Own) Filling Station is one of the latest crazes in the smoking community.

With the cost of cigarettes rising at an alarming rate, the RYO Filling Station allows smokers to use the loose tobacco of their choice — along with the paper tubes of their choice — to make 200 smokes in around eight minutes.

Valdosta has one of these machines, and it can be found at Roll ‘Em Here Tobacco. Carl Stadler owns the shop that is located at 1579 Baytree Road in the Sugar Creek Plaza, next to Stage 51.

“This is new to Georgia,” Stadler said. “There are many stores in Florida and the northeast, and they’re even going out west in Alberqurque and in Texas.”

After the customer picks out the tobacco of their choice, they pour the tobacco into the 700-pound machine. The machine then begins filling each of the selected paper tubes with the loose tobacco — creating around 25 smokes per minute.

The RYO Filling Station can create up to 50 boxes a day and the total price for 200 smokes is $21.99 plus tax.

“The original company that makes these machines is in Girard, Ohio, I believe,” Stadler said. “and … I went up for training and I installed it.”

Stadler, who previously lived in Florida, said that the machines are very popular in the Sunshine State.

“In Florida, they have stores all over, and people wait in line to use these machines,” he said. “I’ve seen stores with six machines, and people are still waiting in line because of the cost savings and because the resulting cigarettes are good. People here don’t know about them yet.”

As of right now, Roll ‘Em Here Tobacco has nine different combinations of loose tobacco and paper tubes.

“I try to keep it simple, and my choices usually please 80 percent of the people,” he said. “I have full-flavored tobacco, a light tobacco, and an ultra tobacco. It’s just the perceived strength of the tobacco. With the tubes, there’s a full-flavored tube, a light tube … and a menthol tube.”

Stadler, who previous owned a small bar/restaurant in Pittsburgh and had a beef jerky route in Florida, said that he wants to build the business up and get a second machine.

“The business plan is pretty much in place, because when you see a store and people are waiting in line, you know it’s a proven plan,” he said. “The key is just reaching the people. The trick is getting the tobacco at the right moisture level to work in the machine.

 “I’ll (eventually) hire locals, so I’m hoping to help the economy here, too,” he said. “I opened this store on a tight budget. This is what this store is all about, people who are on a tight budget.”

Stadler said that business has been slow, but a sticker ad in The Valdosta Daily Times and word of mouth has helped.

“I get off around 7 p.m., and I go to, say, Bayou Bills and hand out a few cards … just trying to reach out,” he said. “I try to hand out 10 or 12 cards a night, and two of those people will come in and give me a try, and next thing you know, they bring a few more.”

So far, Stadler said that most people who visit his business use the RYO Filling Station. However, a few have simply bought loose tobacco.

“They’re happy with my prices,” Stadler said. “If people aren’t too lazy to save money, they can come see me.”

Roll ‘Em Here Tobacco

Address: 1579 Baytree Road, Sugar Creek Plaza, Valdosta

Phone: (229) 259-9770

Hours: Open 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday