Loving How Ever1 Is Into Hookahs As Much As I...need Advice!

[Guest DJ_HOSSEIX]

I don't know that I would go and use nammor's for your lounge, when your having to stretch out that hose across tables it can be quite a bit stiffer then your standard hose which can lead to tipped over hookahs when people aren't careful(Lord knows that the holes in my carpet have all come from a nammor or razan not bending the right way). Otherwise it sounds like an awesome bar with some great things goin on. Wish I had something that nice in my area, although I hope that when I do get the chance in a year or so to open my own bar it'll be as nice as yours sounds. Dever's got a nice idea to with the Boba Tea, there was one across from the the last bar I worked at and lots of people loved to go get some and come back and smoke. The only other thing I would suggest is to maybe pass on using Mya Obliesk's as your hookahs, no doubt they are great hookahs, but price wise and replacement part wise they aren't necessarily the best. It wouldn't be fun forkin over $50-$75 to replace a broken base when you could get egyptian replacement bases for less than half the cost, and from the looks of it you can't ever order a replacement Obliesk base from Mya's website. I also wouldn't discount the potential for customers of Middle Eastern descent being turned off by the Mya's, I've seen it happen many times in many different bars that you would lose that customer base over using something other then what they expect from a hookah.

The reason we choose the Obelisk (besides the fact that they look amazing) is that we are not going to be using the chair/table/sofa/beanbagg layout most lounges here in california use. We will be using a concept known by iranians as "takhte" which ill post some pictures off but we will be giving that concept a little modification and give it a bit of a make over.

Takhte:
http://www6.worldisround.com/photos/9/231/47.jpg
http://static.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/.../BN18721_65.jpg
http://bp2.blogger.com/_wFysSz1V88Q/Rrq_g8...-h/CIMG2801.JPG
http://persia1.files.wordpress.com/2008/06...or-teahouse.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/269156...08550e2.jpg?v=0

Your last point is hillarous, i know middle easterns tend to be very picky, but why dont they like Myas haha?! Dont they hit good?

I only speak about my last point from my experiences in the 4 lounges I've worked in. Here in San Antonio we've got a large number of military bases for training purposes and they deal with alot of people who are from the Middle East and are here to do military training to have better staffed armies. A large majority of these folks coming in have been turned off by Mya usage from what I've seen and we've always made sure to keep Egyptian hookahs around to please them as a customer. I've also experienced customers walking out because we didn't have a traditional egyptian pipe to offer them. I don't mean to sound biased or to offend anyone but customers from the Middle East are quite a bit more picky then you would think, hell most of them wouldn't smoke anything other then double apple and grape. Not that theres anything wrong with that(I love me some double apple or grape) but they seem to be wanting something that more closely realtes to what they would get in there home country which usually isn't found in a mass produced chinese pipe such as a Mya.

i totally believe that. Theres a hookah cafe down here in diamond bar, california called Sahara cafe and i remember the customers who were "1st gen smokers" wouldnt want to smoke anything besides an egyptian. Age was they were still pretty young maybe 28+.

But the thing with the place we are opening its demographics is widely the 18+ age category who are after the glitter and glam. The ones who are always trying to show that they are the baddest/tightest/hottest etc which the Orange County is FILLED with lol.

[EternalSoil]

Gonna give some quick personal opinions...

first off, i assume you have it under control but mushrat posted a "so you want to open a hookah bar" thread a long time ago. (i would post it but i searched for like 10 mins and couldn't find it)

Secondly, go to bars around your area and see what types of things they are serving: tobacco flavors/brands, beverages, food. things like that.

also,i agree with having egyptians available as well as myas. i would stick with cheaper hoses like the standard myas... they are an easily removable item that i would think could "sprout legs and walk off" so to speak.

naturals are a great idea also, no added flavors for those more experience smokers.

also, you have to think about whether you will be a retail store. I know you want just mostly a hangout but its a thought.

and one thing i noticed is that you said it was almost for no profit. and i know that includes buying the shisha, bills, replacements and stuff like that but one of the biggest chunks will be your employees wages!

I'm not trying to tell you something you don't already know, just throwing it out there just in case.

=)

[EternalSoil]

found the thread

http://www.hookahforum.com/?showtopic=11575

[Guest DJ_HOSSEIX]

Gonna give some quick personal opinions...

first off, i assume you have it under control but mushrat posted a "so you want to open a hookah bar" thread a long time ago. (i would post it but i searched for like 10 mins and couldn't find it)

Secondly, go to bars around your area and see what types of things they are serving: tobacco flavors/brands, beverages, food. things like that.

also,i agree with having egyptians available as well as myas. i would stick with cheaper hoses like the standard myas... they are an easily removable item that i would think could "sprout legs and walk off" so to speak.

naturals are a great idea also, no added flavors for those more experience smokers.

also, you have to think about whether you will be a retail store. I know you want just mostly a hangout but its a thought.

and one thing i noticed is that you said it was almost for no profit. and i know that includes buying the shisha, bills, replacements and stuff like that but one of the biggest chunks will be your employees wages!

I'm not trying to tell you something you don't already know, just throwing it out there just in case.

=)

haha thanks for all the output bro.

we are still debating whether or not we would want to do retail. The thing is the online hookah market is blooming and must people seem to buy their stuff online (im guessing better deals?).

But i need some help, i tried contacting mya off of myasaray.com for a price list (theyll give me a discount right??) but it seems like there is not Admin?

Do you know of any venders that can hook up good prices for those of us who are opening such a business?

profit of course is always good and we do expect a lot of it but its not first in our agenda.

As far as employment my partners and i will me doing all if not most of it until we get a hang of things. The only thing i am worried about is that most of us are either pre-dental studens, law students, or business students and we need to find some sort of cook lol. I have all the recipes but i dont want to hire some fancy mancy chief, just some one who can cook with my recipes lol.

[SixPackSunday]

dude... how do you smoke a hookah sideways? thats CrAzY!!!111!!11

[EternalSoil]

haha thanks for all the output bro.

we are still debating whether or not we would want to do retail. The thing is the online hookah market is blooming and must people seem to buy their stuff online (im guessing better deals?).

But i need some help, i tried contacting mya off of myasaray.com for a price list (theyll give me a discount right??) but it seems like there is not Admin?

Do you know of any venders that can hook up good prices for those of us who are opening such a business?

profit of course is always good and we do expect a lot of it but its not first in our agenda.

As far as employment my partners and i will me doing all if not most of it until we get a hang of things. The only thing i am worried about is that most of us are either pre-dental studens, law students, or business students and we need to find some sort of cook lol. I have all the recipes but i dont want to hire some fancy mancy chief, just some one who can cook with my recipes lol.

Yeah i understand about the online thing but people do still buy things in stores so it's something to consider.

you would have to call MYA. their number should be on the site. Make sure when calling any vendor to get a big order you have information so they dont think you're just gonna sell them off or something. A wholesale license will help with buying hookahs and shisha.

great idea witht he partners helping to get it going.

get your food handlers permit and cook that shit yourself! have people test it to get opinions.

[Guest DJ_HOSSEIX]

haha thanks for all the output bro.

we are still debating whether or not we would want to do retail. The thing is the online hookah market is blooming and must people seem to buy their stuff online (im guessing better deals?).

But i need some help, i tried contacting mya off of myasaray.com for a price list (theyll give me a discount right??) but it seems like there is not Admin?

Do you know of any venders that can hook up good prices for those of us who are opening such a business?

profit of course is always good and we do expect a lot of it but its not first in our agenda.

As far as employment my partners and i will me doing all if not most of it until we get a hang of things. The only thing i am worried about is that most of us are either pre-dental studens, law students, or business students and we need to find some sort of cook lol. I have all the recipes but i dont want to hire some fancy mancy chief, just some one who can cook with my recipes lol.

Yeah i understand about the online thing but people do still buy things in stores so it's something to consider.

you would have to call MYA. their number should be on the site. Make sure when calling any vendor to get a big order you have information so they dont think you're just gonna sell them off or something. A wholesale license will help with buying hookahs and shisha.

great idea witht he partners helping to get it going.

get your food handlers permit and cook that shit yourself! have people test it to get opinions.

I was thinking about the whole retail idea today and i like it, ill stock a couple and see how it does.

Fer shure im getting the food license, and the initial plan was for me to cook, but i have way to much school work, and the only time i could would prbly thursdays, fridays, saturdays, and sundays :\

I have to think of something lol.

[Apets22]

Oops for got the pic haha.


EDIT: I also think Grilled Chesse would be awesome at a hookah lounge.. Edited September 16, 2008 by Apets22

[enano#1]

you should check this site out it would help : ) http://www.hookabusiness.com/index.htm

[Guest DJ_HOSSEIX]

you should check this site out it would help : ) http://www.hookabusiness.com/index.htm

i ran into that site a while ago and then i googled it to see what ppl who have purchased it say and they all agree its the biggest scam ever

[Guest DJ_HOSSEIX]

Oops for got the pic haha.


EDIT: I also think Grilled Chesse would be awesome at a hookah lounge..

thats a pretty good hit (and plus your saying its not even the best it can do..) lol. pretty awesum

[enano#1]

oh sry then LOL

[Guest DJ_HOSSEIX]

what do you guys think i should use as far as phunnel bowls.

Tangiers or Mnh glass?

small, med, or large?

Ill be using natural mesquite, does anyone have experience with natural coals on tangiers tobacco in a phunnel bow? As far as heat management goes?

[NickReppinThe909]

just use the chinese knockoff ones they are cheaper so you wont have to charge people as much for a broken bowl

and my input is: DONT play techno,rock,rap or country, it kills the whole atmosphere and brings in the type of people you wouldnt want in a business. only play middle eastern music (not middle eastern techno/house either) stick to stuff like ehab tawfiq,cheb mami,dahler mehndi music of that sort.

food and drink is a really good idea but dont only have american food have good food like yansoon, helba, hummus and maybe garlic naan and for drinks turkish coffee is a must have so is mint-jasmine tea

[Click]

Well definitely not the large phunnel cause they you'll have customers smoking one bowl for 4+ hours lol.

If you go the phunnel bowl route, honestly just do smalls because they will last longer than any head at other hookah lounges.

[Snacks]

Actually you might want to restict yourself to only a few phunnel bowls and go with MYA bowls for the general public. Even the small phunnels require quite a bit of tobacco and you can still smoke that for as much as two hours.

[Click]

I dunno my Chinese Small holds pretty much the same as my MYA bowl. The Chinese ones seem to be smaller than the reg. tangiers small phunnel.

[Snacks]

All tangiers bowls are different though, but as said before, if you go with phunnel bowls, you might aswell go with the chinese ones, atleast if you want a lot of them, if not go with tangiers.

My tangiers small holds a bit more then my MYA. But we might have different packing methods.

[Click]

Tis true.

[SixPackSunday]

i would suggest running regular mya bowls for the public and doing an 'upcharge' for phunnels, or reserving them for 'VIP' style guests... since purchasing one phunnel bowl will last as long as two regular myas..

and go ahead and get small chineses... since small tangys are going to be mia for a while more

[rigor]

dude... how do you smoke a hookah sideways? thats CrAzY!!!111!!11

LOL!

[Guest DJ_HOSSEIX]

haha thnx for the input everyone.

A little bit of info on the place we are opening is that its beachside in very wealthy part of california, has a huge middle eastern population, the place will have persian infuzed elements, and there is also a bouncer at the front of the entrance. Its going to be a very upscale place, i have decided to go with the mya obelisks since it goes well with the decor of the lounge and since myas smoke pretty bad ass. Im going to speak with the owner or anyone in charge of wholesale for tangiers and see what kind of deal i can get for tangiers tobacco and their funnel heads. Also the chances of bringing the hooka are very limited with the way we have designed the place.

Pretty much when the place opens (which we are in stage 1 right now so itll be a while lol) everyone on this forum who lives in california will have their choice of hookah and food for free.


As far as music goes, there will be all types playing, persian, arabic, and western but it wont be thumping. Itll act as an accent piece for the lounge.

As for food and drinks we have a huge drink list (not alcoholic, we aren't going to take that right because alcohol always causes problems) and for food we will be serving Arabic, Persian, and American. Just think of our place as a hookah lounge that serves food (we aren't going to have many dishes like a restuarant).

[Guest DJ_HOSSEIX]

I bought a pack of AF mint last night and ive noticed that AF's are becoming less juicey than they were before. Is it just the few boxes ive got or is anyone else noticing it too?

[Click]

Sounds awesome man. I second that grilled cheese would be cool, lol.