What do you look for?

[imonlyapuppet]

Brief background: [b]I'm trying to start a hookah bar[/b], and right now i'm doing my research on entreprenuership basics, and I'm trying to get some market research down.

[b]I need to know what people would look for when going to a hookah bar/lounge/cafe[/b]. I'm not specifically asking you guys to answer questions for me, I'd like to have my fellow college students answer those questions so I can get the opinions of my local market, but I could use the help of the variety of people here in developing essential questions that will provide me with a lot of information.

[b]I'm trying to come up with a somewhat detailed questionaire/survey so that I can get as much feedback, opinions, and ideas as possible.[/b]

I can't really come up with any questions other than...
[list]a) do you know what a hookah is, have you tried one, and have you been to a hookah bar before?
what would you expect to pay at a hookah bar?
c) what are some key flavors you would want to smoke, or (even better) specific brands
d) would you like the place to offer alcohol?
e) would you like the place to allow cigarette smoking inside?
e) what kinds of food would you expect/want to eat at a hookah lounge? contemporary food, pastries, or middle eastern/ethnic foods?
f) what kinds of drinks would you expect/want? teas, coffees, sodas, etc.
g) what sorts of music, or visual displays would you want to experience? Modern top 40, middle eastern/ethnic, subtle electronica.
h) Would you prefer single or multi hose hookahs?
[list]




If you want to answer these questions while you're at it, go ahead. If you've got any other questions you think I should add to this survey, please tell me. Also, sharing your experiences of other hookah bars is helpful.

Thanks!


EDIT: I've created and posted a brief online survey on my website, [url="http://boonehookah.com/survey.html"]http://boonehookah.com/survey.html[/url] if you want to take a couple seconds and fill it out, that'd be great!

[London786]

To tell you the truth mate, basically when i go to a hookah bar in London I look for the atmosphere. For exmaple one bar i go to has a couple of plasma screens blasting the music or sports channels which always help. They dont allow cig smoking as it ruins the aeroma of the shisha, which is also attracts me. Along with this the seating and all over design has to be relaxing and contempoarary giving the whole smoking experience an extra dimension. Just try to create a unique stimulating environment and the punters wil be rolling in.

[DizzyGuy]

Comfortable furniture, good atmostphere... not crappy music...

[PhatBeezie]

Naked Pole Dancers !

[Skimo]

a) Yeah I've been to a couple different hookah bars and own my own hookah
Maybe 5 bucks a bowl and 2 for refills, maybe a cover charge incase people arn't going to smoke
c) Havana, Al Waha and Tangiers
d) I think it would work better if you had it BYOB
e) No
e) Middle Eastern Food, and deff. offer teas
f) Tea, Energy Drinks and Sodas
g) Hip-Hop, Middle Eastern Music, House and some Rock
h) Multi hose hookahs

[oryon1033]

a) I own 4, and I am also in talks about opening up a lounge in Reno, but that is up in the air right now.
I would expect to pay a cover just like any other club, but i should be reasonable. As far as a per bowl rate I think 5 dollars is pretty fair.
c) Can't choose flavors friend. There are too many good ones out there. My top 3 brands(no particular order) are Tangiers, Havana, Romman. Honorable mentions go to Al Fakher, Fumari, Al-Waha, and Al-Amir.
d) Yes
e) No
e) Variety is everything. I wouldn't want to get pigeon holed into eating nothing but Middle Eastern food at a hookah bar.
f) Tea, coffee, soda, alcohol, etc. You could serve arak. That would be cool. And maybe Turkish coffee. mmmmm.
g) You could have a juke box so people can pay to choose what they want to hear. Maybe even have a dj on certain nights so people can dance if they want to.
h) Maybe have both so people can have the option. I personally like 1 hose better, but with a large party(4+) multiple hoses might be better.

[KiKaL]

Those questions all seem good and I can't think of any others.

Heres my answers.

[b]a) do you know what a hookah is, have you tried one, and have you been to a hookah bar before? [/b]
Yes I own two, yea quite a few times.

[b] what would you expect to pay at a hookah bar? [/b]
The bar at Purdue charges $2 to enter on weekends and $12 per hookah.
The bar back home just $12 for a hookah. Those are the prices im use to and expect.

[b]c) what are some key flavors you would want to smoke, or (even better) specific brands [/b]
The bigger the variety of flavors the better. Brand wise Al Fakher, Al Waha, Tangiers

[b]d) would you like the place to offer alcohol? [/b]
absolutely, on a college campus that is a must.

[b]e) would you like the place to allow cigarette smoking inside? [/b]
No not at all

[b]e) what kinds of food would you expect/want to eat at a hookah lounge? contemporary food, pastries, or middle eastern/ethnic foods? [/b]
Since you advertised this as at a college campus im not sure. When I have gone to the hookah bar here I very very rarely actually see people go for the food. Back home thats a differnt story and deffinitely would say middle easter/ethnic.

[b]f) what kinds of drinks would you expect/want? teas, coffees, sodas, etc. [/b]
Teas, coffee and soda

[b]g) what sorts of music, or visual displays would you want to experience? Modern top 40, middle eastern/ethnic, subtle electronica. [/b]
This being for a college campus I say subtle electronica, house, trance. Any other place middle eastern/ethnic

[b]h) Would you prefer single or multi hose hookahs? [/b]
I would say a single hose rotating hookah. This way people who are new to this type of thing dont have to worry about remebering to plug the hose
[/b]

[Joseph]

Well, as far as alchohol goes, if it is near a college campus there will also be a lot of 18-20 year old kids who can't drink. If you can offer alchohol and still allow all ages that would be fine, but if it turns it into a 21 and over establishment it would be bad. A lot of kids want to go somewhere at night and hang out or socialize, but can;t go to bars, so they go to hookah lounges instead. Making it a 21 and over place would cut out a huge demographic.

[Yonatan]

a) do you know what a hookah is, have you tried one, and have you been to a hookah bar before?

Yes, I have one myself , i've never been to a hookah bar because I am underage
what would you expect to pay at a hookah bar?
Depends, you can give people optios, say $15 for a hookah with unlimited free refills, or pay per bowl $5 a bowl.
c) what are some key flavors you would want to smoke, or (even better) specific brands
Al Fahker, Romman, Al Wahla
d) would you like the place to offer alcohol?
Hmm.. if I were 21 I would probably want alcohol in a place like that.
e) would you like the place to allow cigarette smoking inside?
No, it ruins the atmosphere. You could have an outdoor lounge which allows cigs.
e) what kinds of food would you expect/want to eat at a hookah lounge?contemporary food, pastries, or middle eastern/ethnic foods?
Depends, do you want it to be a Hookah lounge with snacks or a Hookah Lounge/Real Resteraunt.
f) what kinds of drinks would you expect/want? teas, coffees, sodas, etc.
Anything and everything. Drinks are mucho importante.
g) what sorts of music, or visual displays would you want to experience? Modern top 40, middle eastern/ethnic, subtle electronica.
Mix it up variety is important.
h) Would you prefer single or multi hose hookahs?
Single hose, because not everyone who comes in knows what they're doing and single hoses are easier to maintain.

[OPR234]

Comfortable furniture is one of the most important things in my opinion. Definitly no cigarettes (thats what the hookah is for!). Alcohol would be a plus, but like Joseph said, you absolutely need 18-20 yr olds, especially by a campus. And if you do serve alcohol, keep the main emphasis on the hookahs, you dont want the 18-20 people feeling like dorks because they cant drink. I would say offer both single and multi hose hookahs, some groups are bigger than others.
As for the shisha you serve, I would say the bigger the variety of both brands and flavors, the better. After all, more options available would encourage people to come back and keep trying new flavors and stuff.

[Puddy]

Comfortable furniture for sure. Couches.

Food, I'd like tapas. Tea, soda, juices.

Remember liquor opens a can of worms, as does a full kitchen. You have to do a totally different market analysis if you are thinking of including either of those two.

As for music, I go to hookah bars to relax and talk. Definitely don't want to hear the same top 40 stuff I can hear in any other bar.

Anyway, free idea: Have a "cocktail menu" where you mix shisha (and juices in base) and upcharge for it.

[imonlyapuppet]

All good responses so far. If anyone has any more questions to add, feel free.

The area I'm in is a dry town, meaning liquor cannot be sold in bars, only beer. I agree that alcohol/kitchens is an entirely different beast, so I do want to keep the focus on the hookah. However, I know plenty of people that love to have a beer or two with their hookah, it adds to the relaxation aspect.

BYOB may be a bad idea because I can see underage drinking being a prevalent problem. Maybe just offer a few selections of beer, some fancier stuff, not standard stuff like bud light and PBR. Yeah, it would limit peoples choices a lot, but it would help to reinforce the idea that the place is mainly about the hookah, plus higher quality, pricier "fancer" may add to the elegance of the place.

I also realize that drunk people + hookah = replacement base


And for those of you suggesting coffee:

When you say you want some coffee or some tea with your hookah, are you talking about a coffee shop variety of coffees with all sorts of expensive equipment, or just the option of having "dark roast, decaf, cappucino, chai" etc. The food I'd provide would more than likely be something along the line of pastries, desserts, appetizers, breads, etc. Trying to stay away from a full on kitchen though, because that's a new set of regulations and a lot more expenses.

[Joseph]

Well, I love turkish coffee with hookah, the strong flavor compliments the hookah well, there would be no expenisve equipment to buy. It would also seem sophisticated, which would appeal to lots of college kids.

[PersianPride]

[quote name='PhatBeezie']Naked Pole Dancers ![/quote]

Hmmm naked dancing chics and hot pieces of charcoal ...................good combo

[Johnny_D]

[quote name='imonlyapuppet']<SNIPPED>
I also realize that drunk people + hookah = replacement base[/quote]

Drunk people + Hookah = replacement bar. Coals and Furniture do not mix.

JD

[imonlyapuppet]

EDIT: I've created and posted a brief online survey on my website, [url="http://boonehookah.com/survey.html"]http://boonehookah.com/survey.html[/url] if you want to take a couple seconds and fill it out, that'd be great!

[SanguineSolitude]

doesnt let me send so here are my answers

[b]1.Do you know what a hookah is, have you ever tried one, and have you been to a hookah bar before? [/b]

yes,yes, yes (i have 2 hookahs)

[b]2. What would you expect to pay at a hookah bar, for food, drinks, and the actual hookah itself? [/b]

depends on the tobacco. for nakhla/al waha type stuff probably around 7-8 bucks. its not worth more than that.
al amir/havana/al fakher 10 bucks
starbuzz/romman/tangiers 12-13 bucks
a cool idea is to have teapots you take to the table and charge per pot, like 4 bucks for a pot of tea. (thats like 3.50 profit for you too)sodas 1.00 for a can 1.50 for a 20oz. or fountain sodas would be nice but more work for your waitstaff since they need to refill and such.unless you want to go full kitchen i would stick to packaged snacks like candy bars and the like

[b]3.What are some key flavors you would want to smoke? (There are tons of different flavors if shisa tobacco, list anything you'd want to smoke, there is probably a flavor of it made already)[/b]

you need a good selection of each brand you carry.
essentials are double apple, apricot, rose, peach, strawberry, cherry, melon, jasmine, mint, cola, plum, grape, pineapple, raspberry maybe a couple more.
i suggest you offer a few brands of tobacco. like al waha(cheapest) havana (medium) and starbuzz (premium) this gives people a choice.and alot of people will buy the premium because its the most expensive so instead of like 8 bucks you can get 12-14 for a hookah.

[b]4. Would you want a hookah bar to offer alcohol? If so, name specific brands/types. Would you rather BYOB? [/b]

no alcohol. its a liability for you and requires a liquor license and you need to card everyone. whole new can of worms.
no byob. what if you forget and are thirsty? plus thats tacky.

[b]5. Would you want a hookah bar to allow cigarette smoking inside?[/b]

heck no. ruins the taste of the shisha and the atmosphere. noone needs two tobacco products at once.
[b]
6. What kinds of food would you expect/want to eat at a hookah lounge? Contemporary food, pastries, desserts, snacks, or middle eastern/ethnic foods? Full entrees or just snacks, appetizers, and desserts? [/b]

middle eastern food as well as assorted sandwhiches if its a full kitchen with entrees and appetizers and desserts.
if not then just assorted snacks.
[b]
7.What kinds of drinks would you expect/want? Teas, coffees, sodas, etc. List favorite brand/flavors, be specific. [/b]

moroccan mint tea!!! its easy to make and popular. buy decent green tea put it in a teapot throw in a few sprigs of mint and some honey. pour boiling water into the pot and take it out to the table with some cups. easy to make, looks impressive, and goes great with hookah. plus like i mentioned earlier you can charge like 4-5 bucks a pot. and that costs you like 50 cents worth of mint honey and tea. (you want to get this down to a science by testing a few times with standard sized teapots. ie know how much honey to put in every time, how much tea, mint doesnt matter as much. more is better.)
other teas are a good idea. i would suggest two options. the mint above and maybe call something bedouin tea with cloves and cinnamon stick thrown in with a nice black tea with a little honey.
sodas and bottled beverages are also a good idea. soda fountain is good for customer but less profitable for you.
[b]
8. What genres of music would you want to be played at a hookah lounge? Modern top 40, middle eastern/ethnic, mild electronica, techno, dance, rap, reggae, etc. At what volume would you want the music to played (like a normal bar, or just something in the background) ?[/b]

not top 40 or rap. not good chill music. i would say ethnic, mild electronica like dj shadow, air, thievery incorportated, etc. anything light and calming, but maybe with a nice vibe to it. just keep it at the point where people dont have to raise there voices to talk. otherwise the lounge will get loud quickly since as people talk louder they will have to start talking even louder to hear over the talking. not good. comfortable seating(couches around low tables) and calm lighting is a must. its all about relaxation. blasting music and bright lights arent good.


[b]9. Would you prefer single or multi-hosed hookahs? [/b]

for the hookahs i suggest you do like my local bar and offer only single hosers. but some rotaters. charge 2 dollars more to upgrade to a rotator but have it come standard on the premium tobacco flavor.

[hookah hippie]

if the atmosphere sucks i would not go into the hookah bar when i smoke i want to enjoy myself not deal with a bunch of loudmouths who believe that they are so damn cool
got to have a good code of conduct keep rowdy people in line it will ruin the hookah experience if you don't

[SanguineSolitude]

for the love of god check ids to keep the highschool fucks out.