Hookah Bars: The Next Big Thing?

You've probably seen a hookah. Most children whoall-time high and major manufacturers are creating
grew up in the United States have almost certainlymore and more flavors to be consumed by customers
seen a hookah. But, like most people, you've likelyworldwide. Flavors include everything from fruity
forgotten what one looks like and what they're usedapples and oranges to regional favorites like bubble
for. Think back. Recall the tale of a girl named Alicegum and vanilla. In all, there are more than 50 different
who seemingly stranded in a strange, imaginativeflavors to choose from and more are being added all
world. In Lewis Carroll's story, Alice in Wonderland,the time. The precise mixture of ingredients has also
Alice stumbles upon an arrogant and inquisitiveyielded a tobacco with flavor that lasts longer. In fact,
caterpillar. Perched atop a giant mushroom, andone person can smoke can smoke a bowl of tobacco
smoking what appears to be a strange musicalfor nearly an hour without having to change the
instrument, the caterpillar asks Alice a quite memorabletobacco.
question-- "Who are YOU?" The musical instrument isA small number of entrepreneurs have recognized the
not really a musical instrument at all. It is, in fact, apotential of the hookah and have begun to open bars
hookah and this hookah-smoking caterpillar is howand cafes that are specifically-tailored toward the
most children get their first glimpse of this curiouslyrental and sales of hookahs. In just a short period of
strange smoking device.time, they've proven that there is some serious money
When Lewis Carroll wrote the story of Alice in 1865,to be made in the hookah service industry for those
hookahs had been in existence and in use for severalwilling to venture into seemingly unchartered territories.
centuries. Though never really popular in EuropeanMost surprising is the low initial investment required to
countries, the hookah was and is still very popular inopen a hookah establishment. For most locations, as
Eastern cultures like Egypt and India. So, how is it thatlittle as 10 to 15 hookahs per 1,000 square feet of
this mysterious thing called hookah has never seen itscustomer seating area is sufficient and will virtually
day in Europe or, in more recent times, the Unitedguarantee that there are enough hookahs to go
States? Perhaps the time is upon us!around. When purchased in larger lots, the cost of
In the past, cigars have been the 'gourmet smoke' foreach hookah can run anywhere from $20 to $80
those wishing to break out of the conventional,dollars and some wholesalers will even provide the
cigarette-smoking mold. Crafted from higher-gradehookahs for free if the bar or cafe agrees to
tobaccos and hand-rolled in exotic lands, cigars havepurchase their hookah tobacco from the company.
become a true contender to the additive-infusedRental fees for hookahs run anywhere from $10 in a
cigarettes of modern day. Cigars have become sohookah cafe to $25 in hookah bars! Of course, the
popular, in fact, that they have cropped up an entirerental plan is entirely up to the business owner and
industry that is based around their existence. Cigar andusually includes a single bowl of hookah shisha to
specialty tobacco shops are evidence of the profit tosmoke. Lower-priced refills of hookah tobacco
be made from selling tobacco in a different formencourage customers to stick around and socialize in
factor than that of the cigarette. In addition to cigarthe intimate environment. Most customers do not
shops, cigar bars have proven that smoking-tailoredsmoke by themselves, opting instead for groups of 3
establishments can be both socially-acceptable andto 4 people. This will reduce the longevity of each bowl
huge profit centers for their owners. It is society'sof tobacco and increase the number of refills
acceptance of the cigar bar that makes hookah barspurchased by each group.
and hookah cafes a possibility!Before you can begin renting hookahs, you must first
There is no doubt that the tobacco industry has seencheck with local, state and federal governments to
better days and, from the aftermath of the Bigensure that you will not be breaking any laws or
Tobacco lawsuits, it's a wonder that these companiesregulations. For most areas, a tobacco sales tax
are still around. Did you know that there are over 600permit or license is all that is required to begin renting
legally-allowed additives that tobacco companies canhookahs. Of course, this is supplemental to the typical
add to their cigarettes? That's an amazing cocktail ofstate sales tax permit or license. You will also need to
chemicals that cigarette smokers are putting into theircheck local zoning requirements and determine the
bodies every time they choose to light up! Inbest location for your bar or cafe. There are a number
comparison, today's hookah tobacco, commonlyof wholesalers available to get your cafe or bar up
referred to as shisha (pronounced: shee-shuh), isand running in the shortest amount of time possible. It is
comprised only of a handful of natural ingredients.recommended that you opt for customer service and
These ingredients are typically tobacco, all-naturalsupport over pennies saved, as it is often difficult to
glycerin or honey, sugar and natural flavorings. That'sfind companies that are in-tune with the American way
596 additives short of what could be in a normal,of doing business.
run-of-the-pack cigarette! It's facts like these that bringIn addition to hookahs, you will need to choose
most people to believe that hookah smoking is abetween a bar or cafe concept. Cafes are generally
less-harmful alternative to smoking cigarettes.easier to open and require a minimal amount of
Unfortunately, no major study has been performed toadditional capital. The largest expenditure will be the
evaluate the health effects of smoking hookah. So,espresso machine and this will run anywhere from
we'll have to wait for a definitive answer to that$2,000 to $14,000 depending upon the brand, model
question.and, if used, the age of the machine. If you plan the
When the Turkish invented the hookah centuries ago,cafe route, it is recommended that you pick up a copy
they did so with one goal in mind. Up to that time,of "Start and Run a Coffee Bar" (Matzen &
tobacco had been smoked in pipes that areHarrison, Self Counsel Press 2002). Although not
reminiscent of American Indian peace pipes. Whenhookah-oriented, it's filled with the ins-and-outs of
smoking from these pipes, the smoke was at arunning a cafe and what is required to operate all of
temperature very close to the burning tobacco itself.the various cafe machines. If you want to open a
Someone came up with the idea of filtering the smokehookah bar that serves alcoholic beverages, it is
through water to cool the smoke to an enjoyabledefinitely recommended that you open near a college
temperature. The simplicity of the hookah made it anor university campus. This will give you a steady flow
instant hit and has been a major reason why hookahsof new, fresh bodies that will save your bar from going
are still prevalent in so many Eastern cultures. Thoughstale with the locals. The hookah bar concept, when
not originally planned when the hookah was invented,coupled with college towns, has proven to be the most
the water that the smoke passes through actuallysuccessful and profitable hookah business ventures.
acts as a natural filter that helps filter tar and otherThere are, of course, caveats to opening a bar of any
impurities created when tobacco is smoked. Manytype. You will have to cut through significantly more
years after the hookah was invented, someone would'red tape' but the payoff should definitely be worth the
accidentally drop their tobacco into some molasses,time and effort. Hookah bars are one of the fastest
thus paving the way for modern hookah shisha. It wasgrowing concepts for college towns and offer a fresh,
the addition of molasses, now substituted by all-naturalnew environment for 20-somethings to hang out.
glycerin, which slowed the rate at which the tobaccoAs you can see, hookahs have edged their way into
burned and actually made it possible to heat thethe European and American lifestyle. The cigar bars of
tobacco rather than burning it. Heating tobacco resultsyesteryear have paved the way for a unique
in greater flavor potential and lowers the amount ofopportunity for the entrepreneurs of today. Hookah
nicotine that is released while smoking.cafes and hookah bars stand to make millions by
The hookahs of today, while being modernized andproviding the public with something that they've been
updated, have remained true to their creator's initiallooking for and haven't been able to find in the
goal. Traditionally made of glass and brass, hookahscountless other cafes and bars. Hookahs bring back
are now being produced of materials such as acrylic,the social, intimate gatherings of friends that have long
crystal and steel. Also, the once hand-crafted art hasbeen lost to the hustle and bustle of modern life. Oh,
transformed into a full-blown industry that is sellingand who knows? Your hookah bar or cafe could be
record numbers of hookahs. Hookah shisha has comethe next big thing!
of age, as well. Production of hookah shisha is at an