Robstorey Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Hello everyone!!! Now I understand that everyone and their sister wants to start a lounge. I've been doing serious research the past 6 months and have conducted proper market research, secured the funding, and have everything (for the most part) lined up so that when the moment has come, all the dominos will fall. That being said I wanted to get some new and different opinions from owners or those that feel qualified to answer questions tegarding some of the smaller details. 1. What is the best solution you all have found in regards to smoke ventilation. The place lined up is 1500 sq ft on the bottom floor of a 4 storey building. Smoke eater is the best name floating around but is there any stand alone units that would be more cost effective and do the same kind of job? 2. As is a common issue, what type of security precautions are widely accepted as far as insuring a safe environment ( no drugs, weapons , ect) and also preferred system of ID checks ( machine, visual, both) 3. With many facilities utilizing smoke detectors in conjunction with sprinklers, how many places have you been to that don't have smoke detectors? And if any owners are out there, does not having them drastically affect your insurance premium? Looking for some constructive help! Thanks in advanced everyone! Rob 💨 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerdy Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Most of your questions were answered here: http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/11575-so-you-want-to-start-a-hookah-lounge-updated/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfernoRaven Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Smoke Eater's are expensive but worth it they remove the smoke and add oxygen to prevent your smokers from getting massive headache from CO poisoning (IF you get a headache wouldnt' you want to leave?). I have seen some that actually cool down the air but don't create wind disturbance. I don't know of any variations off the top of my head. At most of the lounges I have or currently work at it is visual checks, swiping the card is fast but it is a unneeded costs. If your going large scale you should consider it. But limit your overhead to start. As for Drugs and Weapons, minimalistic protection is dependant on your local laws, personally FL doesn't have any required laws as we are not held liable for such actions so if we see it we generally throw them out if it is drugs, if it is weapons (Guns we call the cops) or say Stun Gun or Pocket Knife, Fold Blade we don't say anything your allowed to carry such weapons into public places in our state. Smoke laws, we are not required to have them if our building is smaller than X sq feet here. Usually the size of a store or warehouse where you cannot easily escape. We compromised on fire measures and invested in fire extinquishers (A,B,C) General Fire, Electric and Gas Fire is likely the only things you will run into at the lounge I work at. Also we have 3 exits to our lounge What are you looking at for after hours security? I have been going over this list with my dad for a while we are in the process of opening a small scale lounge as a trial run, if it takes off we will steadily increase our size to accomidate new lounge frequenters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddy Zou Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 1. Good thing about hookah emission is that it's not like cigarettes. It's more of a vapor that vaporizes quickly and does not stain the walls. Unless you are packing a lot of people into a small space, the usual air circulation should be fine, unless otherwise indicated by your local health department. 2. Your envioronment depends a lot on your decor, so think about what kind of customers you want to attract before building it out. If you are afraid of people dealing drugs and being shady then turn out the lights. Who says all hookah lounges has to be super dark. Here a pictures of our most recent location: 3. Sprinkler and smoke detector locations have specific required elements by the building and planning department. So if this is a new space then you'll definitely need a architect to draw the plans out. If it is existing, it does NOT affect your insurances. Other factors like whether or not you are serving alcohol, how many security guards you have, will affect your premium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfernoRaven Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 This is the hookah lounge where I work back when we were preforming construction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mushrat Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Wow, Hookah Bliss was a dump compared to these places..... But we still had the best hookah and beer in NC :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoozle Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Wow, Hookah Bliss was a dump compared to these places..... But we still had the best hookah and beer in NC :) That's what's most important. When we go to a lounge, we drive past quite a few "fancy" lounges to get to one that doesn't look quite as nice but serve a pretty good hookah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuie Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Cheif concern will be future laws in your area. Have a thriving hookah bar one day, state legislature passes a law shutting you down or taxing the hell out of tobacco, effectively shutting you down.....It's very scary the government is so involved in individual business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hassouni Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Wow, Hookah Bliss was a dump compared to these places..... But we still had the best hookah and beer in NC :) That's what's most important. When we go to a lounge, we drive past quite a few "fancy" lounges to get to one that doesn't look quite as nice but serve a pretty good hookah. Abu Nawas boyyyyy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoozle Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Wow, Hookah Bliss was a dump compared to these places..... But we still had the best hookah and beer in NC :) That's what's most important. When we go to a lounge, we drive past quite a few "fancy" lounges to get to one that doesn't look quite as nice but serve a pretty good hookah. Abu Nawas boyyyyy! You know it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehelios Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Cheif concern will be future laws in your area. Have a thriving hookah bar one day, state legislature passes a law shutting you down or taxing the hell out of tobacco, effectively shutting you down.....It's very scary the government is so involved in individual business. How else are government officials supposed to show that they care about the "important" issues??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wek-sos Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Cheif concern will be future laws in your area. Have a thriving hookah bar one day, state legislature passes a law shutting you down or taxing the hell out of tobacco, effectively shutting you down.....It's very scary the government is so involved in individual business. This... In all honesty you should be talking to a business lawyer and a commercial real estate agent. Figure out if you can even serve tobacco in a good location to attract customers. They will be able to tell you about things like ventilation, fire suppression, and security precautions more than an online forum can help. I know there are quite a few owners/employees on this forum, but laws will vary from place to place.. Anything from obtaining an indoor smoking/tobacco selling license, ventilation, etc.. may vary from county to county. And like Stuie said, the laws might randomly change. Things like Hookah Catering business inside of a restaurant/club/coffee bar might be a way to get around this. I know where I have lived, some hookah bars only exist outdoors, separate from the food and restrooms. Some hookah bars are enclosed in a room inside of the restaurant, and you pay for the hookah & food/drinks on 2 separate tabs. Some hookah bars are not allowed to serve any food and can only sell non-alcoholic beverages, even though they have to go through food service health inspections. And of course due to these various designs of smoking facilities, the ventilation requirements and fire codes vary for each establishment. But a business lawyer can help you find your way through it all. I know I would rather drop a large sum of money on legal advice instead of paying for it later on down the road with fines. I would only look to Hookah Forum for help with product selection, lounge arrangement, pricing, and things like that. I know we would love to help, but I'd rather not offer any legal advice that may get you screwed over in the long run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddy Zou Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Actually yes what wek-sos said, but before you give any lawyers a fat retainer, you can find out all that information at the building and safety or planning department at the city hall of the location you have your eyes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wek-sos Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Actually yes what wek-sos said, but before you give any lawyers a fat retainer, you can find out all that information at the building and safety or planning department at the city hall of the location you have your eyes on. Good advice. No money should be involved with that method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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