Latest Shot It In The Anti-smoking Fight...

[mushrat]

http://www.1360wchl.com/details.html?id=10874

Check out segement #4.

[antouwan]

http://www.1360wchl.com/details.html?id=10874

Check out segement #4.

good positive press imo. is there any way that you could also sell tobacco that you use in your pipes? could that make you a hookah retailer? de facto exempting you...right?

edit: another idea. what if your customers were buying the tobacco from you and you for "free" loaded it into the pipe for them to smoke there? i mean the language would just be a means to an end...that end is you staying alive. yay for legal language/loopholes. Edited July 3, 2009 by antouwan

[DarkParade]

thats stupid that they are giving an exemption to every other form of tobacco lounge but if you keep bugging them about it eventually they will do something about it... eventually

[mushrat]

http://www.1360wchl.com/details.html?id=10874

Check out segement #4.

good positive press imo. is there any way that you could also sell tobacco that you use in your pipes? could that make you a hookah retailer? de facto exempting you...right?

edit: another idea. what if your customers were buying the tobacco from you and you for "free" loaded it into the pipe for them to smoke there? i mean the language would just be a means to an end...that end is you staying alive. yay for legal language/loopholes.

Unfortunately, according ot the law a tobacco retailer can't sell food or alcohol. So im out on that one.

[Zyram]

Keep on fighting Mush, at least you won't go down in a whimper, but maybe wake some folks up as you go! I am hoping you can get that exemption through man, because it's ridiculous that we have to have a "lobby" to pay off our supposed representatives into leaving us with our rights. Fight the good fight Mush.

-Z

[antouwan]

http://www.1360wchl.com/details.html?id=10874

Check out segement #4.

good positive press imo. is there any way that you could also sell tobacco that you use in your pipes? could that make you a hookah retailer? de facto exempting you...right?

edit: another idea. what if your customers were buying the tobacco from you and you for "free" loaded it into the pipe for them to smoke there? i mean the language would just be a means to an end...that end is you staying alive. yay for legal language/loopholes.

Unfortunately, according ot the law a tobacco retailer can't sell food or alcohol. So im out on that one.

two businesses, 1 building?

there's a spanish place here in houston. it's one building, cut in two, common kitchen. 2 registers. tio pepe's is the sit down restaurant, and (in the same building) there is Gamaxa tapas bar. i mean i know it's annoying to keep dodging the law like that, and getting around things, but the most important thing now - if you cant beat the law - is for you to stay open

[Svaals]

I cannot see how this can be called anything but blatant cultural persecution. I imagine that if you talked to the people at Reason.com, you will be able to get your story out a little more. At the very least, make the general public aware of this blow to civil liberties. And who knows, maybe contacting major media outlets in your market, online niche journalists, and hell, you could even consult with a lawyer to put as much pressure as you can on those "representatives" of yours. It sounds like they've been giving you the run-around, so if you want to fight it, you'll prolly have to put some heat on 'em

[Scalliwag]

I hate that you're going through all this shit Mush. I'm hoping your plight is successful and an exemption is granted.

[Rani]

http://www.1360wchl.com/details.html?id=10874

Check out segement #4.

good positive press imo. is there any way that you could also sell tobacco that you use in your pipes? could that make you a hookah retailer? de facto exempting you...right?

edit: another idea. what if your customers were buying the tobacco from you and you for "free" loaded it into the pipe for them to smoke there? i mean the language would just be a means to an end...that end is you staying alive. yay for legal language/loopholes.

Unfortunately, according ot the law a tobacco retailer can't sell food or alcohol. So im out on that one.

Mush, I just happened to remember something...... What if you moved the food and alcohol to next door? See what I remembered was this Italian deli around the corner while I was growing up. They wanted to sell something that wasn't compatible with the deli - I don't remember what 'cuz I was a kid. So they leased out the store next door and sold it there. They were able to put a door between the two and customers wandered back and forth without any problems that I can recall. A local shop recently did the same thing. Leased out the store next door, put in a connecting door but kept it officially as a separate business. I know it would increase your licensing fees, etc., and might not be affordable. But if you could afford it could you get away with it that way? Move the food and alcohol to the other business next door and then sell tobacco on your side? Officially owning two businesses? Would that combination cover you?

'Rani

[hookah hippie]

I am sorry to hear that Mush I hope that you can somehow find a way to remain in business

I wish you luck

[mushrat]

http://www.1360wchl.com/details.html?id=10874

Check out segement #4.

good positive press imo. is there any way that you could also sell tobacco that you use in your pipes? could that make you a hookah retailer? de facto exempting you...right?

edit: another idea. what if your customers were buying the tobacco from you and you for "free" loaded it into the pipe for them to smoke there? i mean the language would just be a means to an end...that end is you staying alive. yay for legal language/loopholes.

Unfortunately, according ot the law a tobacco retailer can't sell food or alcohol. So im out on that one.

Mush, I just happened to remember something...... What if you moved the food and alcohol to next door? See what I remembered was this Italian deli around the corner while I was growing up. They wanted to sell something that wasn't compatible with the deli - I don't remember what 'cuz I was a kid. So they leased out the store next door and sold it there. They were able to put a door between the two and customers wandered back and forth without any problems that I can recall. A local shop recently did the same thing. Leased out the store next door, put in a connecting door but kept it officially as a separate business. I know it would increase your licensing fees, etc., and might not be affordable. But if you could afford it could you get away with it that way? Move the food and alcohol to the other business next door and then sell tobacco on your side? Officially owning two businesses? Would that combination cover you?

'Rani

Cool idea, but there is no room next door, 2 well established businesses. And there are no places around that I can afford in this town to move to that this might work for. But thanks for the Ideas folks.

[Vampy6997]

Meridian in tampa does pretty well and it just sells sodas/water/Sobe's...stuff like that...and some random other bottled drinks (teas, etc). Is there going to be a law in place against alcohol free drinks?

That way the smokers don't go thirsty...it's a bit crappy to lose alcohol business but there are other businesses selling alcoholic drinks on that road...Then when you do have money saved on a location you can afford, where you can have alcohol and hookah (maybe a place with an outdoor patio?) then you'd be set. Even if it took a couple years, with good advertising you could increase your returning customer base and make up money lost from lack of alcohol sales....ya know?...

if I went to chill at your lounge right now, (well, you know, later in the day), I wouldn't be there to drink. I'd be there to smoke. Smoking and drinking for me, well...it can be dangerous, depending on some unknown factors...so I tend to either just smoke or just drink.

Maybe you could also do an online store, too?...

[Tyler]

Maybe you could establish your store as an online store and sell something like only one brand of shisha or something like that?

[Hellaslow]

Meridian in tampa does pretty well and it just sells sodas/water/Sobe's...stuff like that...and some random other bottled drinks (teas, etc). Is there going to be a law in place against alcohol free drinks?

That way the smokers don't go thirsty...it's a bit crappy to lose alcohol business but there are other businesses selling alcoholic drinks on that road...Then when you do have money saved on a location you can afford, where you can have alcohol and hookah (maybe a place with an outdoor patio?) then you'd be set. Even if it took a couple years, with good advertising you could increase your returning customer base and make up money lost from lack of alcohol sales....ya know?...

if I went to chill at your lounge right now, (well, you know, later in the day), I wouldn't be there to drink. I'd be there to smoke. Smoking and drinking for me, well...it can be dangerous, depending on some unknown factors...so I tend to either just smoke or just drink.

Maybe you could also do an online store, too?...

Meridian also blows now a days... sence they went to hooka hooka the business went down hill... Meridian needs to sell food to keep its doors open sence the hookahs aren't doing it...

back on topic: Mush keep on keepin on dude, it seems like you got this shit under control. if you can pack a head and make people happy you don't need food just nonalchol drinks.

[Crys]

hey Mush...I was curious about the new smoking law that Obama recently signed that will start to prohibit sale of flavored cigarettes

how will shisha be affected by the law since its essentially flavored tobacco

I'm kind of worried that I won't be able to buy it anymore

[Sonthert]

They used to do that here in San Diego...they got wise to it and shut them all down. Remember, California has had a smoking ban longer than anyone else in the U.S..Its a loophole they know and will close quickly if they haven't already. If you're in the middle of a lease. Disaster.

[cotsi95]

http://www.1360wchl.com/details.html?id=10874

Check out segement #4.

good positive press imo. is there any way that you could also sell tobacco that you use in your pipes? could that make you a hookah retailer? de facto exempting you...right?

edit: another idea. what if your customers were buying the tobacco from you and you for "free" loaded it into the pipe for them to smoke there? i mean the language would just be a means to an end...that end is you staying alive. yay for legal language/loopholes.

Unfortunately, according ot the law a tobacco retailer can't sell food or alcohol. So im out on that one.

Thats how it is in colorado. The only real choice to stay open is to stop serving food and alcohol. It sucks that no one really cares.

[mitchard]

http://www.1360wchl.com/details.html?id=10874

Check out segement #4.

good positive press imo. is there any way that you could also sell tobacco that you use in your pipes? could that make you a hookah retailer? de facto exempting you...right?

edit: another idea. what if your customers were buying the tobacco from you and you for "free" loaded it into the pipe for them to smoke there? i mean the language would just be a means to an end...that end is you staying alive. yay for legal language/loopholes.

Unfortunately, according ot the law a tobacco retailer can't sell food or alcohol. So im out on that one.

Is that just prepared food?

[mushrat]

http://www.1360wchl.com/details.html?id=10874

Check out segement #4.

good positive press imo. is there any way that you could also sell tobacco that you use in your pipes? could that make you a hookah retailer? de facto exempting you...right?

edit: another idea. what if your customers were buying the tobacco from you and you for "free" loaded it into the pipe for them to smoke there? i mean the language would just be a means to an end...that end is you staying alive. yay for legal language/loopholes.

Unfortunately, according ot the law a tobacco retailer can't sell food or alcohol. So im out on that one.

Is that just prepared food?

I believe so. I coudl do prepackaged snacks and the like.