Colorado Hookah Lounge?

[Hookahmup]

I am looking to start a hookah lounge in colorado, I know there's already several located here. But I'd like to give it my two cents. If anyone knows the colorado indoor act and what I need to go through to start this joint please reply! This has been my dream for the past two years. I'd really like to see it to fruition.

Again thanks for reading any kind words are appreciated.

Nic

[brownbob06]

First of all, it's cool to see a fellow Hookah Smoker on this forum Second, I too have had this dream as well, and have been thinking of how to get around those same laws in Ohio.

There is one hookah bar about 50 minutes from where I live and the way they are set up is that they are just a coffe shop type place with a patio, you can only smoke on the fenced in patio outside, which would be great in the summer. But in the winter, they enclose it completely with what reminds me of an industrial quality "tent" with plastic windows. It is just as cold out there as it is outside. I'm not sure how this is not considered just being inside since it is completely enclosed anyways, but they get away with it.

A more specialized site for this question would also be Hookah Forum (Powered by Invision Power Board)

Good luck, and keep us updated!

[crackah]

*yawn* not ANOTHER Hooker thread.

See plenty of these around. Sounds like silly stuff to me.

[garrison777]

Hookahmup,

Here are the exceptions list for CO:
25-14-205. Exceptions to smoking restrictions. (1) This part 2 shall not apply to:

(a) Private homes, private residences, and private automobiles; except that this part 2 shall apply if any such home, residence, or vehicle is being used for child care or day care or if a private vehicle is being used for the public transportation of children or as part of health care or day care transportation;

(b) Limousines under private hire;
(c) A hotel or motel room rented to one or more guests if the total percentage of such hotel or motel rooms in such hotel or motel does not exceed twenty-five percent;
(d) Any retail tobacco business;
(e) A cigar-tobacco bar;
(f) An airport smoking concession;

(g) The outdoor area of any business;
(h) A place of employment that is not open to the public and that is under the control of an employer that employs three or fewer employees;
(i) A private, nonresidential building on a farm or ranch, as defined in section 39-1-102, C.R.S., that has annual gross income of less than five hundred thousand dollars; or
(j) The retail floor plan, as defined in section 12-47.1-509, C.R.S., of a licensed casino.

later,
PapaSki

[brownbob06]

*yawn* not ANOTHER Hooker thread.

See plenty of these around. Sounds like silly stuff to me.

By how packed the hookah bar we have up here is and by how packed the one I go to in Houston...I wouldn't consider it silly...but whatever.

[pboychuk]

i think an oxygen bar would be better in that high altitude! who knows

[shmoeusn]

I'm having the same problem in FL. I'm still trying to find a way around the smoking ban, while still being able to serve a full lunch menu. If I've read the laws correctly, you can only serve prepackaged food if you are going to smoke indoors. (basically only bars allow smoking inside.)

[Hookahmup]

I'm having the same problem in FL. I'm still trying to find a way around the smoking ban, while still being able to serve a full lunch menu. If I've read the laws correctly, you can only serve prepackaged food if you are going to smoke indoors. (basically only bars allow smoking inside.)

I can actually open my hookah bar under the retail tobacco business definition. I don't know the florida laws, but the colorado ones are pretty strict. I'm going to open as a retail Hookah store, but my main objective will be to have local smokers obviously.

[DPayne]

We had one down in ocean springs, ms. I went there a few times, never picked up on the hookah trend. However, it was packed all the time. Just not my cup of tea.

[yahalaa]

I know a hookah that just opened two months ago and the owner wants to rent it for about $3500 a month. it is nice and I go to it all the time. He has a restaurant next to it and doesn't have the time for the hookah. the location is perfect.. just needs promoting.

let me know email me yahalaa @ gmail .com. I can connect you with him if you promiss to give a discount on smoking hookah if you ever take it.

[Dzortizi]

Hello, my name is Derek and I have joined this forum for common interest in starting a business, (more along the lines of custom home building and/or real estate brokerage) but also to reply to your posting. The concept of a hookah bar in co has already been exploited by many, but in the mind of someone who actually smokes, each one has its shortcoming and downfalls. I dont know if you visit any of the popular spots i.e. Marrakech, Habibi, Aromas (formerly pita), underground, or hubbly bubbly, but all of them seem to have as many negatives as positives.
In my group of friends, over the summer of 08 we went to underground several times a week and enjoyed the fun, clublike environment, along with a standard group of visitors that we became close with (somewhere around 50-75 people). Conveniently, we became close friends with everyone that worked there and eventually were given free....everything! It was a good time each time we went there and we became close with the owner. Unfortunately he had hired only his friends as employees, and shirked his payroll responsibilities, pawning them off on his father, who had financed the space. One of my close friends at the time didnt receive a paycheck for nine weeks. Consequently, the place turned into a highschool. Ive never witnessed more drama as the so called "bouncers" would procure phone numbers from the text list (which was used to anounce the weekly theme parties and deals), and use them to try and sleep with girls. Obviously, nine out of ten girls would refuse, at which point these jerk-offs wouldn't let them back in the door. Then employees starting skipping work, but were never fired. Eventually almost every one of the original employees quit. In november, the owner went to Iraq for his year and a half long tour and just gave underground to his best friend, who had previously managed it. He hired a whole new crew of employees who were all recently fired by the owners father. Moral of the story, if you start one, run a business, dont hire your friends, and avoid drama.
Next on my list is Marrakech. The most fun, always a party atmosphere, but outrageously expensive, and the employees are extortionists and tend to be unfriendly at that (if youre gonna steal my money, do it with a smile ). There have also been rumors of date rape, by the owner, who apparently paid off at least one girl a minimum of ten thousand dollars to keep her mouth shut. Some think they run guns as well, but who really knows right? I dont go there often enought to care. While it's the most popular, everyone ive talked to who has been there has always complained about the price.
Next is pita (Aromas). Near the DU campus, somewhat fun, but recently someone was shot there. Any other comments escape me. :/
Hubbly Bubbly is extremely boring and cold.
Habibi is a perpetual madhouse that makes one want to punch a baby (gotta love Dane Cook) and is also expensive. Also, there is hardly room to breathe as there is generally less than a few feet between tables and bellydancers entertain in the doorway (the only empty space in the place).
A good one to check out would be hookah palace, which is located about a hundred feet north of marrakech in the same stripmall. The owner, Rashid, is extemely nice a and a good personal acquaintance of our group. He has been in that spot for more than fifteen years I believe.
Anyway, it's obvious that hookah is something that weve take in interest in, and see a potential for profit. I considered opening one myself, but decided against it. A general truth would be that longevity is key, along with good customer service, a fun, not too loud environment, and good smoke (ask Rashid), but how does one achieve all of these without spending a bundle? Answer that question and I'll open it for you and manage it for free!
It would be great to talk to you about this so if you would message me back that would be great.

[robousy]

Personally I think Hookahs bars are very cool.

We had a guy open one about a block away from my old apartment in a university city.

It was INSANELY popular for first 2-3 weeks. But withing a couple of months was dead. I saw the owner about 6 months later. He was in debt, selling the business and all the hookah material and looked really down.

Mind you, my campus was a SUPER healthy SUPER religous place. Once the initial intereste died down, I think everyone started worrying about their lungs and their immortal soul.

Man, after just a few trips to that place my lungs felt awful and I couldn't run as much as I used to.

2 pieces of advice.

1. Pick a great location. Probably a university town....but not ultra-religous or health freaks.

2. Have something other than Hookah to draw customers. What about a short mediterranean menu selling Kebabs, humus and pita. Stuff like that.

[UGHTY]

Hello, my name is Derek and I have joined this forum for common interest in starting a business, (more along the lines of custom home building and/or real estate brokerage) but also to reply to your posting. The concept of a hookah bar in co has already been exploited by many, but in the mind of someone who actually smokes, each one has its shortcoming and downfalls. I dont know if you visit any of the popular spots i.e. Marrakech, Habibi, Aromas (formerly pita), underground, or hubbly bubbly, but all of them seem to have as many negatives as positives.
In my group of friends, over the summer of 08 we went to underground several times a week and enjoyed the fun, clublike environment, along with a standard group of visitors that we became close with (somewhere around 50-75 people). Conveniently, we became close friends with everyone that worked there and eventually were given free....everything! It was a good time each time we went there and we became close with the owner. Unfortunately he had hired only his friends as employees, and shirked his payroll responsibilities, pawning them off on his father, who had financed the space. One of my close friends at the time didnt receive a paycheck for nine weeks. Consequently, the place turned into a highschool. Ive never witnessed more drama as the so called "bouncers" would procure phone numbers from the text list (which was used to anounce the weekly theme parties and deals), and use them to try and sleep with girls. Obviously, nine out of ten girls would refuse, at which point these jerk-offs wouldn't let them back in the door. Then employees starting skipping work, but were never fired. Eventually almost every one of the original employees quit. In november, the owner went to Iraq for his year and a half long tour and just gave underground to his best friend, who had previously managed it. He hired a whole new crew of employees who were all recently fired by the owners father. Moral of the story, if you start one, run a business, dont hire your friends, and avoid drama.
Next on my list is Marrakech. The most fun, always a party atmosphere, but outrageously expensive, and the employees are extortionists and tend to be unfriendly at that (if youre gonna steal my money, do it with a smile ). There have also been rumors of date rape, by the owner, who apparently paid off at least one girl a minimum of ten thousand dollars to keep her mouth shut. Some think they run guns as well, but who really knows right? I dont go there often enought to care. While it's the most popular, everyone ive talked to who has been there has always complained about the price.
Next is pita (Aromas). Near the DU campus, somewhat fun, but recently someone was shot there. Any other comments escape me. :/
Hubbly Bubbly is extremely boring and cold.
Habibi is a perpetual madhouse that makes one want to punch a baby (gotta love Dane Cook) and is also expensive. Also, there is hardly room to breathe as there is generally less than a few feet between tables and bellydancers entertain in the doorway (the only empty space in the place).
A good one to check out would be hookah palace, which is located about a hundred feet north of marrakech in the same stripmall. The owner, Rashid, is extemely nice a and a good personal acquaintance of our group. He has been in that spot for more than fifteen years I believe.
Anyway, it's obvious that hookah is something that weve take in interest in, and see a potential for profit. I considered opening one myself, but decided against it. A general truth would be that longevity is key, along with good customer service, a fun, not too loud environment, and good smoke (ask Rashid), but how does one achieve all of these without spending a bundle? Answer that question and I'll open it for you and manage it for free!
It would be great to talk to you about this so if you would message me back that would be great.

I am the owner of Underground Hookah and 100% agree with Derek....The hookah industry and market in Denver is very fragile and very touchy just to give you a heads up. I was new to the industry and yes made many many mistakes....Its part of being a young entrepreneur and the learning phases of business....I have gotten mentor ship from my dad who is now running the lounge while I am deployed overseas....I have a few things that I will be doing outside of the state of Co. upon my return that I will not make the same mistakes twice while trying to continue to repair the mistakes that were made at my lounge in Denver.

If you would like any advice, I am not a business owner that just bad mouths, and scourns his competition....I feel that this industry is way to big to be worried about something like that....

Good Luck with your upcoming venture....

[garone]

Hey!

Did you ever get that hookah bar opened? I'm looking for a partner to open one with right now. If you're interested, reply here or check out my facbook (I think its on my profile?) and we'll get in touch.

Sincerely

Michael

[tdlanier]

I love Hookah. Too bad I'm not in Colorado