Although its not in your area I would recommend going to IwanRies.com. They are a tobacconist out here in Chicago that has been family owned and operated since before the Civil War. They have some of the nicest, most knowledgeable persons in the tobacco business I have ever run accross. You can even call them up and they will take their time talking over the phone with you on a number of things including pipe tobacco. They too are very big, I once estimated these guys have got to have over $2 Million of merchandise in cigars, pipes, humidors and accessories on their floor at any one time.
Hope this helps, I know when I started smoking a pipe a few years ago they were of great help to me!