Opening A Hookah Lounge

[CaliforniaHookah]

Hey all, I'm finally doing it. I'm going to open my first hookah lounge in a few short months. I know most of you folks know what you want from your local hookah lounge and I love to hear your critique of my plan and better yet, your suggestions of what to incorporate into my space to make it a really cool place to hang out.

First of all, the space is about 1000 square feet. The floors are hardwood and it looks pretty damn nice, even though it is without furniture. I will be painting the walls red and moving in couches, easy chairs, and coffee tables as well as wooden tables and chairs. I will bring in big, leafy, indoor plants to arrange throughout the space. I will install at least one flat screen tv. I'll purchase various lamps that will produce soft lighting (the existing lights are flourescent tubes built into the ceiling...though if I replace them with colored tubes that might be cool). I was thinking about draping the ceiling in fabric, black or dark blue, and possibly stringing white x-mas type lights around the perimeter of the ceiling between the ceiling and the fabric coverings.

There will be free wi-fi internet access and I'll provide some board games (chess, checkers, backgammon, playing cards, yahtzee, etc). Also, I'll play popular music and accept song requests.

I'm going to serve hookahs in two price/quality tiers and also serve coffee shop style snacks (muffins, pastries, desserts, etc) and bottled teas, coffees, and soft drinks.

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So, how does my plan sound? What do you good people suggest I do in addition to this? Anything I said that I shouldn't do?

Thanks!!! I'm so excited!! Edited July 14, 2008 by CaliforniaHookah

[racemyghost]

sounds good so far.

make sure the music isint to loud. Serve quality tobacco and charcoal. make sure the people that are packing the bowls know what they are doing.

also clean your hookahs regularly.

give people enough space when they are sitting so they dont feel uncomfortable. Ive been to some cafes where they sit complete strangers at the other end of your table which is like 1 foot away. not cool in my book.

Edited July 14, 2008 by racemyghost

[mushrat]

I own a hookah bar...what do you want to know?

I'd say look at web site for ideas about how to decorate and such. The folks here are always ready to help but you gotta ask real questions...

[Voski]

Judging by your name your in California. Where at?

[CaliforniaHookah]

Sorry folks, the topic submitted right after I typed "hey"...check it out now

[willbb123]

I'm going to serve hookahs in two price/quality tiers and also serve coffee shop style snacks (muffins, pastries, desserts, etc) and bottled teas, coffees, and soft drinks.

None of the lounges that Ive been too have sold any food... It sounds like an amazing idea!

[AKammenzind]

Pillows, pillows, and more pillows. My little group of friends put together a little chill-zone, and draped fabric all over it, then added a bunch of candle and incense burners, including a chandelier (for candles, naturally). We went to the thrift store and bought a shitton of pillows (most looking barely used, if not new) for around $2 apiece. And nice rugs are a very good bonus.

I realize that candles may not be financially viable for a lounge (or safe by the fire-code), but the light from open flames really adds to the atmosphere.

[mix_tape]

Sounds pretty nice to me, the idea of having it similar to a coffee shop. I know the hookah bar I go to sometimes does movie nights or sports nights but I'm really liking the wifi idea. I say make the atmosphere as comfy as possible and laid back. I wish you luck!

[NickReppinThe909]

whereabouts in cali will your lounge be ? if not to far from me i will come lend a helping hand

[mdl]

Wood floors to me would present a problem if coals were to fall (unless it's a crappy floor).
Teach your employees how to correctly pack a bowl of tobacco and to cater to the needs of the customers.
Don't use the same pipe or bowl for mint flavors and fruit flavors.
Properly clean the hookahs after each use.

[ronald_dooley]

No no no, dude. You got it all wrong. To make a good hookah lounge, you need to do the following:

1. Paint the walls black, and have a hobo spray paint neon paintings of trees and the inner workings of his insane mind all over the black walls.

2. Install a few stripper poles... you know, for extra classiness.

3. Don't use quality hookahs. That's a big no-no. Make hobo hookahs out of Vodka bottles, because that's what keeps the customers coming.

4. Hire some fat, unattractive, underaged teenage girls to walk around the place half-naked. Depending on how lazy the local police are, you can even have them walk around fully naked.

5. All that still might not be enough. Just in case anyone normal is not fully sketched out by the above steps, go ahead and employ a creepy dude to walk around wearing nothing but red speedos.

6. Do not forget: Occasionally scream at your customers and threaten them.

[mdl]

ronald, tell us how you really feel. hahaha

[willbb123]

No no no, dude. You got it all wrong. To make a good hookah lounge, you need to do the following:

1. Paint the walls black, and have a hobo spray paint neon paintings of trees and the inner workings of his insane mind all over the black walls.

2. Install a few stripper poles... you know, for extra classiness.

3. Don't use quality hookahs. That's a big no-no. Make hobo hookahs out of Vodka bottles, because that's what keeps the customers coming.

4. Hire some fat, unattractive, underaged teenage girls to walk around the place half-naked. Depending on how lazy the local police are, you can even have them walk around fully naked.

5. All that still might not be enough. Just in case anyone normal is not fully sketched out by the above steps, go ahead and employ a creepy dude to walk around wearing nothing but red speedos.

6. Do not forget: Occasionally scream at your customers and threaten them.

+1

The best part being he probaly has no idea why that is such a good idea

[mjdx88]

Dont use the xmas lights, i think that makes a place tacky. Other than that get a few decorating magazines and just make sure you can pack a bowl, brew good tea and coffee. And always be friendly.

Mike

[racemyghost]

reread my modified post (first post)

didnt want to sound rude but i hate it when people dont research and expect others to spoon feed them (once again, not talking about you)

[imfantabulous]

make sure you serve bomb-ass hummus, i havent found anything that i'd rather eat with hookah than tea, hummus, and pita.

[Kc-Bassist]

I think a fully functional Antique Jukebox would be a good investment where anyone can slap on a mellow tune.

[ilikemyusername]

sounds like a place i'd like to visit sofar.
make sure the music isn't so loud it interferes with conversation.
board games are nice, be sure to pick up a few glass chess sets, they're nice you can get them from walgreens at xmas time for like 10 dollars.
if possible try to color coordinate your pipes by flavors, like if someone orders mint shisha give them a green vase, it helps add that little bit extra.

[Giant Ninja Robot]

As far as the layout, since it's a pretty small space I'd suggest not using black ceiling fabric since that'll visually lower the ceilings ALOT. Especially with the red walls, it could lend a dark, depressing feel. Maybe a offwhite/creme colored fabric would look nice and lend to the plants you plan on bringing in.

I'm always a fan of bringing in a few vintage pieces added to mostly modern looking furniture, etc. Maybe get a few nice middle eastern or egyptian pieces/black and white wall hangings. Some large b&w or sepia toned cityscapes would be sweet. You could then drape floor to cieling curtains bunched at the middle on either sideof the photos throughout the place (unless you use the fabric on the ceiling - overkill).

As far as the paint, as a former painter, you could easily add some monochromatic zing to the place by using 2-3 different shades of the same red for the walls by horizontally striping or using a slightly darker shade than the walls to stencil a border along the ceiling.

I'd also say stick to chill music in the background as oposed to pop-hits. You don't have to go traditional but maybe some eastern influenced electronic, electronic lounge, or jazz/blues. I like to have nice music that blends into my sessions, not that takes them over.

Congrats on finally making the dream a reality!!! The best thing you can do is provide the cleanest, nicest experience while treating your customers very well. No matter how sweet the place looks if it's not friendly I don't go back.

Good Luck!

[jezter6]

I'm going to go against the majority here.

This place is full of dedicated, honest, and decent Hookah smokers looking to uphold the traditional values associated with the hookah and prevent misconception of NHT abuse.

We, however, are a huge damn minority in a hookah bar. Look at yourself, and your expected clientele.

Chances are 80-90% of your customers will be 18-24 college age kids, generally 75% male. 97% of those college kids do not care about the traditional side of hookah. This is (if under 21 is allowed) basically a under21 'club' scene. People will go to hear hip hop/electronica and hang out with other college kids, looking at cute college girls that show up. They will come in half or flully drunk. They will come in because the hookah looks like an NHT device. They will use the hookah as a 'legal' way to look cool like they're a bunch of stonerheads, but it's cheap and easy to get.

My hookah lounge has white curtains and a blue lighting all around. It's called ICE and it looks like ICE. There are cramped couches with some ottoman/stools so you can fit maximum rich white kids in the door, pack em like it's a college party, and charge $7 per hose.

Did I like it? Hell no.

Did 30 other people like it? Hell yes.

They spent much more than I did. This forum is a distinct group of 'advanced' people - it's like having microbrew afficianados at a bud lite 25c bottle night. The kids that go and get wasted on the bud lite spend money, the beer snobs sit and drink 2 or 3 beers and go home.

Go after the money!!

[Majid]

No no no, dude. You got it all wrong. To make a good hookah lounge, you need to do the following:

1. Paint the walls black, and have a hobo spray paint neon paintings of trees and the inner workings of his insane mind all over the black walls.

2. Install a few stripper poles... you know, for extra classiness.

3. Don't use quality hookahs. That's a big no-no. Make hobo hookahs out of Vodka bottles, because that's what keeps the customers coming.

4. Hire some fat, unattractive, underaged teenage girls to walk around the place half-naked. Depending on how lazy the local police are, you can even have them walk around fully naked.

5. All that still might not be enough. Just in case anyone normal is not fully sketched out by the above steps, go ahead and employ a creepy dude to walk around wearing nothing but red speedos.

6. Do not forget: Occasionally scream at your customers and threaten them.

That's sub zero cold.

[Majid]

I'm going to go against the majority here.

This place is full of dedicated, honest, and decent Hookah smokers looking to uphold the traditional values associated with the hookah and prevent misconception of NHT abuse.

We, however, are a huge damn minority in a hookah bar. Look at yourself, and your expected clientele.

Chances are 80-90% of your customers will be 18-24 college age kids, generally 75% male. 97% of those college kids do not care about the traditional side of hookah. This is (if under 21 is allowed) basically a under21 'club' scene. People will go to hear hip hop/electronica and hang out with other college kids, looking at cute college girls that show up. They will come in half or flully drunk. They will come in because the hookah looks like an NHT device. They will use the hookah as a 'legal' way to look cool like they're a bunch of stonerheads, but it's cheap and easy to get.

My hookah lounge has white curtains and a blue lighting all around. It's called ICE and it looks like ICE. There are cramped couches with some ottoman/stools so you can fit maximum rich white kids in the door, pack em like it's a college party, and charge $7 per hose.

Did I like it? Hell no.

Did 30 other people like it? Hell yes.

They spent much more than I did. This forum is a distinct group of 'advanced' people - it's like having microbrew afficianados at a bud lite 25c bottle night. The kids that go and get wasted on the bud lite spend money, the beer snobs sit and drink 2 or 3 beers and go home.

Go after the money!!

i agree. See and be seen type of atmosphere, though it's not my scene, would be a better choice business wise

[SuburbanSmoker]

seems like jex hit the nail on the head +1

[Giant Ninja Robot]

I pretty much agree with Jezter.

No reason you can't include a bit of traditional though, right?

You can take any idea, turn it into a "theme" and pull it off to look fantastic.

I'm sticking to the idea of slick mod furniture/decor with a touch of traditional.

Business-wise it does make much more sense to cater to your clientelle.

Bud Lite...ew. 3 beers for me

[Codename067]

Make some Arabic cold appetizers a part of your menu.

Hummus, Babaghanoush, Tabouleh, Labne, ect..these go down sooooooooooo nice with hookah, its crazy.