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 is
not really a musical instrument at all. It is, in fact, aA small number of entrepreneurs have recognized
hookah and this hookah-smoking caterpillar is howthe potential of the hookah and have begun to open
most children get their first glimpse of this curiouslybars and cafes that are specifically-tailored toward the
strange smoking device.rental and sales of hookahs. In just a short period of
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
each hookah can run anywhere from $20 to $80
In the past, cigars have been the 'gourmet smoke' fordollars and some wholesalers will even provide the
those wishing to break out of the conventional,hookahs for free if the bar or cafe agrees to
cigarette-smoking mold. Crafted from higher-gradepurchase their hookah tobacco from the company.
tobaccos and hand-rolled in exotic lands, cigars haveRental fees for hookahs run anywhere from $10 in a
become a true contender to the additive-infusedhookah cafe to $25 in hookah bars! Of course, the
cigarettes of modern day. Cigars have become sorental plan is entirely up to the business owner and
popular, in fact, that they have cropped up an entireusually includes a single bowl of hookah shisha to
industry that is based around their existence. Cigar andsmoke. Lower-priced refills of hookah tobacco
specialty tobacco shops are evidence of the profit toencourage customers to stick around and socialize in
be made from selling tobacco in a different formthe intimate environment. Most customers do not
factor than that of the cigarette. In addition to cigarsmoke by themselves, opting instead for groups of 3
shops, cigar bars have proven that smoking-tailoredto 4 people. This will reduce the longevity of each bowl
establishments can be both socially-acceptable andof tobacco and increase the number of refills
huge profit centers for their owners. It is society'spurchased by each group.
acceptance of the cigar bar that makes hookah bars
and hookah cafes a possibility!Before you can begin renting hookahs, you must first
check with local, state and federal governments to
There is no doubt that the tobacco industry has seenensure that you will not be breaking any laws or
better days and, from the aftermath of the Bigregulations. For most areas, a tobacco sales tax
Tobacco lawsuits, it's a wonder that these companiespermit or license is all that is required to begin renting
are still around. Did you know that there are over 600hookahs. Of course, this is supplemental to the typical
legally-allowed additives that tobacco companies canstate sales tax permit or license. You will also need to
add to their cigarettes? That's an amazing cocktail ofcheck local zoning requirements and determine the
chemicals that cigarette smokers are putting into theirbest location for your bar or cafe. There are a number
bodies every time they choose to light up! Inof wholesalers available to get your cafe or bar up
comparison, today's hookah tobacco, commonlyand running in the shortest amount of time possible. It is
referred to as shisha (pronounced: shee-shuh), isrecommended that you opt for customer service and
comprised only of a handful of natural ingredients.support over pennies saved, as it is often difficult to
These ingredients are typically tobacco, all-naturalfind companies that are in-tune with the American way
glycerin or honey, sugar and natural flavorings. That'sof doing business.
596 additives short of what could be in a normal,
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
cafe route, it is recommended that you pick up a copy
When the Turkish invented the hookah centuries ago,of "Start and Run a Coffee Bar" (Matzen & Harrison,
they did so with one goal in mind. Up to that time,Self Counsel Press 2002). Although not
tobacco had been smoked in pipes that arehookah-oriented, it's filled with the ins-and-outs of
reminiscent of American Indian peace pipes. Whenrunning a cafe and what is required to operate all of
smoking from these pipes, the smoke was at athe various cafe machines. If you want to open a
temperature very close to the burning tobacco itself.hookah bar that serves alcoholic beverages, it is
Someone came up with the idea of filtering the smokedefinitely recommended that you open near a college
through water to cool the smoke to an enjoyableor university campus. This will give you a steady flow
temperature. The simplicity of the hookah made it anof new, fresh bodies that will save your bar from going
instant hit and has been a major reason why hookahsstale with the locals. The hookah bar concept, when
are still prevalent in so many Eastern cultures. Thoughcoupled with college towns, has proven to be the most
not originally planned when the hookah was invented,successful and profitable hookah business ventures.
the water that the smoke passes through actuallyThere are, of course, caveats to opening a bar of any
acts as a natural filter that helps filter tar and othertype. You will have to cut through significantly more
impurities created when tobacco is smoked. Many'red tape' but the payoff should definitely be worth the
years after the hookah was invented, someone wouldtime and effort. Hookah bars are one of the fastest
accidentally drop their tobacco into some molasses,growing concepts for college towns and offer a fresh,
thus paving the way for modern hookah shisha. It wasnew environment for 20-somethings to hang out.
the addition of molasses, now substituted by all-natural
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
providing the public with something that they've been
The hookahs of today, while being modernized andlooking for and haven't been able to find in the
updated, have remained true to their creator's initialcountless other cafes and bars. Hookahs bring back
goal. Traditionally made of glass and brass, hookahsthe social, intimate gatherings of friends that have long
are now being produced of materials such as acrylic,been lost to the hustle and bustle of modern life. Oh,
crystal and steel. Also, the once hand-crafted art hasand who knows? Your hookah bar or cafe could be
transformed into a full-blown industry that is sellingthe next big thing!Ethan Frost is a hookah evangelist
record numbers of hookahs. Hookah shisha has comeand managing editor for Hookah Hoopla!, the Web's
of age, as well. Production of hookah shisha is at anpremier hookah news site.