By Chelsi Jennings
Wood County Monitor
Paradise Vapor, located in Suite 700 at 344 N.W. Loop 564, celebrated its ceremonial ribbon cutting Friday, July 24, with family, friends, and members of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce.
Manager Brandon Tackel and his wife, Mandy, operate the Mineola location alongside their son, Christopher, and family friend Colin. The event also marked Brandon and Mandy Tackel’s sixth wedding anniversary.
Guests enjoyed live music by local musician Dalton Cummings, while Southern Charm Bakery of Mineola provided baked goods. Fresh hot dogs were grilled and served by Brandon Tackel.
Although Paradise Vapor has operated at its Mineola location since 2014, the business only recently joined the Mineola Chamber of Commerce. Brandon Tackel previously managed several Paradise Vapor locations, but when the company consolidated its stores, the decision was made to keep only the Mineola location open.
Mandy Tackel said the decision was largely driven by the strong sense of community and customer support they experienced in Mineola.
That support has also earned the business local recognition. Paradise Vapor recently received the Best of 2025 Mineola Award in the Vaporizer category, an honor based on customer Google reviews.
Mandy Tackel said it is important for customers to know Paradise Vapor is a locally owned, family- and faith-based business rather than a chain store. She said the shop has hosted Bible studies and strives to create an environment where every customer feels like family.
Supporting other local businesses and giving back to the community are also priorities for the Tackel family.
“I really want to keep money in the community because that’s where the business comes from,” Mandy Tackel said.
Adding to the welcoming atmosphere are Toby and Bella, the Tackels’ two dogs, who have become familiar faces to many regular customers. Well known and well-loved throughout the community, the pair often greet visitors and have become the shop’s unofficial mascots.
Because of the nature of the business, customers must be at least 21 years old to enter the store.
Paradise Vapor offers an everyday buy-one, get-one-half-off promotion on disposable vape products, excluding refills. The store is also one of the few area retailers to offer a “try before you buy” option, allowing customers to sample flavors using sanitary disposable tip covers before making a purchase.
The shop carries several major disposable vape brands, including Geek Bar, Fogger, Lost Mary and Raz. In addition to vaping products, Paradise Vapor also offers loose tobacco, ZYN nicotine pouches, cigars, cigar wraps, incense and a limited selection of cigarettes. Paradise Vapors
The business also offers a 10% discount to law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, firefighters, active-duty military members and veterans.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere, the Tackels said they are facing uncertainty over proposed changes to Texas law that could affect the sale of smokable hemp, Delta-8 and 7-OH products.
“It could cause us to lose 40 to 50 percent of our revenue, mostly through the smokable hemp, but also through Delta-8 and 7-OH,” Mandy Tackel said. She described 7-OH as a 7-hydroxy product that customers use for pain relief.
The family said they remains hopeful while awaiting a final decision and will continue serving customers as usual in the meantime.
Paradise Vapor is also holding a raffle with three prize categories. Blue tickets are $5 each for a chance to win a 50-inch Samsung television. Red tickets are $3 each for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate, while green tickets are $1 each for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate. Tickets will be available through the drawing on Aug. 31.
Paradise Vapor is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. More information is available on the business’s Facebook page.