Hookah Bars: The Next Big Thing?

You've probably seen a hookah. Most children whomore flavors to be consumed by customers
grew up in the United States have almostworldwide. Flavors include everything from fruity
certainly seen a hookah. But, like most people,apples and oranges to regional favorites like
you've likely forgotten what one looks like andbubble gum and vanilla. In all, there are more than
what they're used for. Think back. Recall the tale50 different flavors to choose from and more
of a girl named Alice who seemingly stranded in aare being added all the time. The precise mixture
strange, imaginative world. In Lewis Carroll's story,of ingredients has also yielded a tobacco with
Alice in Wonderland, Alice stumbles upon anflavor that lasts longer. In fact, one person can
arrogant and inquisitive caterpillar. Perched atop asmoke can smoke a bowl of tobacco for nearly
giant mushroom, and smoking what appears toan hour without having to change the tobacco.
be a strange musical instrument, the caterpillar
asks Alice a quite memorable question-- "Who areA small number of entrepreneurs have
YOU?" The musical instrument is not really arecognized the potential of the hookah and have
musical instrument at all. It is, in fact, a hookahbegun to open bars and cafes that are
and this hookah-smoking caterpillar is how mostspecifically-tailored toward the rental and sales of
children get their first glimpse of this curiouslyhookahs. In just a short period of time, they've
strange smoking device.proven that there is some serious money to be
made in the hookah service industry for those
When Lewis Carroll wrote the story of Alice inwilling to venture into seemingly unchartered
1865, hookahs had been in existence and in useterritories. Most surprising is the low initial
for several centuries. Though never really popularinvestment required to open a hookah
in European countries, the hookah was and is stillestablishment. For most locations, as little as 10 to
very popular in Eastern cultures like Egypt and15 hookahs per 1,000 square feet of customer
India. So, how is it that this mysterious thing calledseating area is sufficient and will virtually
hookah has never seen its day in Europe or, inguarantee that there are enough hookahs to go
more recent times, the United States? Perhapsaround. When purchased in larger lots, the cost of
the time is upon us!each hookah can run anywhere from $20 to $80
dollars and some wholesalers will even provide the
In the past, cigars have been the 'gourmethookahs for free if the bar or cafe agrees to
smoke' for those wishing to break out of thepurchase their hookah tobacco from the
conventional, cigarette-smoking mold. Craftedcompany. Rental fees for hookahs run anywhere
from higher-grade tobaccos and hand-rolled infrom $10 in a hookah cafe to $25 in hookah bars!
exotic lands, cigars have become a trueOf course, the rental plan is entirely up to the
contender to the additive-infused cigarettes ofbusiness owner and usually includes a single bowl
modern day. Cigars have become so popular, inof hookah shisha to smoke. Lower-priced refills of
fact, that they have cropped up an entirehookah tobacco encourage customers to stick
industry that is based around their existence. Cigararound and socialize in the intimate environment.
and specialty tobacco shops are evidence of theMost customers do not smoke by themselves,
profit to be made from selling tobacco in aopting instead for groups of 3 to 4 people. This
different form factor than that of the cigarette.will reduce the longevity of each bowl of tobacco
In addition to cigar shops, cigar bars have provenand increase the number of refills purchased by
that smoking-tailored establishments can be botheach group.
socially-acceptable and huge profit centers for
their owners. It is society's acceptance of theBefore you can begin renting hookahs, you must
cigar bar that makes hookah bars and hookahfirst check with local, state and federal
cafes a possibility!governments to ensure that you will not be
breaking any laws or regulations. For most areas,
There is no doubt that the tobacco industry hasa tobacco sales tax permit or license is all that is
seen better days and, from the aftermath of therequired to begin renting hookahs. Of course, this
Big Tobacco lawsuits, it's a wonder that theseis supplemental to the typical state sales tax
companies are still around. Did you know thatpermit or license. You will also need to check local
there are over 600 legally-allowed additives thatzoning requirements and determine the best
tobacco companies can add to their cigarettes?location for your bar or cafe. There are a number
That's an amazing cocktail of chemicals thatof wholesalers available to get your cafe or bar
cigarette smokers are putting into their bodiesup and running in the shortest amount of time
every time they choose to light up! Inpossible. It is recommended that you opt for
comparison, today's hookah tobacco, commonlycustomer service and support over pennies
referred to as shisha (pronounced: shee-shuh), issaved, as it is often difficult to find companies
comprised only of a handful of natural ingredients.that are in-tune with the American way of doing
These ingredients are typically tobacco, all-naturalbusiness.
glycerin or honey, sugar and natural flavorings.
That's 596 additives short of what could be in aIn addition to hookahs, you will need to choose
normal, run-of-the-pack cigarette! It's facts likebetween a bar or cafe concept. Cafes are
these that bring most people to believe thatgenerally easier to open and require a minimal
hookah smoking is a less-harmful alternative toamount of additional capital. The largest
smoking cigarettes. Unfortunately, no major studyexpenditure will be the espresso machine and this
has been performed to evaluate the healthwill run anywhere from $2,000 to $14,000
effects of smoking hookah. So, we'll have to waitdepending upon the brand, model and, if used, the
for a definitive answer to that question.age of the machine. If you plan the cafe route, it
is recommended that you pick up a copy of
When the Turkish invented the hookah centuries"Start and Run a Coffee Bar" (Matzen & Harrison,
ago, they did so with one goal in mind. Up to thatSelf Counsel Press 2002). Although not
time, 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
smoking from these pipes, the smoke was at aof the various cafe machines. If you want to
temperature very close to the burning tobaccoopen a hookah bar that serves alcoholic
itself. Someone came up with the idea of filteringbeverages, it is definitely recommended that you
the smoke through water to cool the smoke toopen near a college or university campus. This will
an enjoyable temperature. The simplicity of thegive you a steady flow of new, fresh bodies that
hookah made it an instant hit and has been awill save your bar from going stale with the locals.
major reason why hookahs are still prevalent inThe hookah bar concept, when coupled with
so many Eastern cultures. Though not originallycollege towns, has proven to be the most
planned when the hookah was invented, thesuccessful and profitable hookah business
water that the smoke passes through actuallyventures. There are, of course, caveats to
acts as a natural filter that helps filter tar andopening a bar of any type. You will have to cut
other impurities created when tobacco is smoked.through significantly more 'red tape' but the
Many years after the hookah was invented,payoff should definitely be worth the time and
someone would accidentally drop their tobaccoeffort. Hookah bars are one of the fastest
into some molasses, thus paving the way forgrowing concepts for college towns and offer a
modern hookah shisha. It was the addition offresh, new environment for 20-somethings to
molasses, now substituted by all-natural glycerin,hang out.
which slowed the rate at which the tobacco
burned and actually made it possible to heat theAs you can see, hookahs have edged their way
tobacco rather than burning it. Heating tobaccointo the European and American lifestyle. The
results in greater flavor potential and lowers thecigar bars of yesteryear have paved the way for
amount of nicotine that is released while smoking.a unique opportunity for the entrepreneurs of
today. Hookah cafes and hookah bars stand to
The hookahs of today, while being modernizedmake millions by providing the public with
and updated, have remained true to theirsomething that they've been looking for and
creator's initial goal. Traditionally made of glass andhaven't been able to find in the countless other
brass, hookahs are now being produced ofcafes and bars. Hookahs bring back the social,
materials such as acrylic, crystal and steel. Also,intimate gatherings of friends that have long been
the once hand-crafted art has transformed into alost to the hustle and bustle of modern life. Oh,
full-blown industry that is selling record numbers ofand who knows? Your hookah bar or cafe could
hookahs. Hookah shisha has come of age, as well.be the next big thing!Ethan Frost is a hookah
Production of hookah shisha is at an all-time highevangelist and managing editor for Hookah Hoopla!,
and major manufacturers are creating more andthe Web's premier hookah news site.