I'm just down the road in Fayetteville. I also went to school in Raleigh.
Empire is a great shop. An amazing Tatuaje selection. Illusione. Crowned Heads. Tons of Pepin stuff. Fuentes as well as good Opus selection when they come out. They had Cain F Lanceros. It goes on and on.
If you are ever down in Fayetteville, Anstead's Tobacco is the place to be. Quite possibly the nicest lounge in the State. They just moved, and the place is awesome.