History
Established in 1972.
Waterbeds 'n' Stuff was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1972, but the story starts a few years earlier. Founder Gerald Spero launched a wholesale smoke shop and counterculture supply business in 1969, operating it out of his apartment under the name The Warehouse. It grew fast. His biggest retail customer was a waterbed store that also carried the counterculture merchandise Gerald supplied. The partnership made sense, and in 1972 the two businesses merged and Waterbeds 'n' Stuff was officially incorporated, opening its first storefront on North High Street across from Ohio State University. Gerald bought out his original partner not long after and became sole owner. By the late 1970s, a wildly popular marketing campaign had earned him the nickname "Crazy Jerry," a name Columbus still remembers. Over the following decade, the company grew to 13 locations across Central Ohio. More than 50 years later, Waterbeds 'n' Stuff is still Columbus's original smoke shop.
Meet the Business Owner: Gerry S.
It started with a van, a box of beads, and a stack of posters, rolling through Columbus with a mission: bring alternative culture to everyone. What began as a small hustle grew into Waterbeds ’n’ Stuff, a name now known across Central Ohio. From incense and tapestries to smoking accessories, vape gear, glass pipes, bongs, and unique novelty gifts, the spirit never changed, only the reach did.
Today, with 13 retail locations and a fast-growing online smoke shop, Waterbeds ’n’ Stuff connects a new generation to the culture that started it all. Whether you’re searching for premium glass, vapes, detox products, or headshop essentials, the journey continues. Now shipping coast to coast, bringing the vibe of Ohio to every corner of America.
