Starting up a Hookah Bar

[SandyStartUp]

i/m renting the unit next to my exsting bizness in may and starting a coffeeshop and hooka bar. in florida if u sell less than 10% food u can get a smoken exemption. i will be serving espresso beer wine soda fancy pastrys and baged snacks and hookahs 31 differant flavors. i figgure if i do all the start up
it will cost 20 to 25 grand 884 sq ft. will seat about 50. Called Coffeeshop580
i/ll keep ya posted how it/s going

where in fl are you considering?

[alluwanted]

Plan it differently.
Probably some theme based! Some one sitting in sand and enjoying hookah - Arabic style?

Or an Indian village type under trees?

Create enough class and hype!

And dont forget to study the existing ones - Hookah-Bars.com - Hookah Bar Directory and Reviews

Even I am tempted to start one---if some one funds ! LOL

[shah2k]

i am actually looking to start one up in new york city.. i have about $100k to invest in it but I believe I need more. anyone in NYC wanna partner up or atleast if you dont have money help with starting it up by other means?

[Lightswitch]

I am extremely interested in opening a hookah bar among other ammenities to keep the place filled to the brim at all times. I have amazing ideas to keep everything fresh and keep the profits rolling in. I'm not messing around when I say I really want this to happen, I just need someone to back me up to make this happen. I will work very hard to make this work.

I live in San Fernando Valley and if you already know, we have hookah bars here, but they all lack some of the most important details to being successful and yet, they ARE successful because no one really has a choice.

Not comfortable, bad service, bad product, no variety, boring to look at, horrible music/too random playlists, the list goes on and on.

I can't stress enough that I have the capacity and drive to make this happen and have a business explode within a month, but like most others, I am short on funds to do so.

If anyone is -SERIOUSLY- interested in opening a successful hookah bar in a good location and getting exactly what you wanted, then let me know and we should talk.

Even if you want to set up in your area and you're curious to pick my brain and see what we can pull off, I'm all ears to anything. If we could start something even in YOUR area, then I would be willing to relocate for the cause.

I won't just share my ideas with you just because you ask, only with people who are interested in a successful and serious partnership.

My email is: snfitzgerald @ hotmail .com and I have instant messengers.

I hope to hear from someone who wants to make something great.

[zharlene]

I was also going to start one with a friend of mine...but I think it's more complicated that we think? Not sure. At first it sounded like a great idea, and then we figured out that we needed some sort of license from the environmental sector or something.

[MattV]

It shouldnt need any licence different from that of a cigar club.

[James765]

Hello everyone, my name is James and I am going to school for a business bachelors right now and am dead set on opening a hookah lounge/chain on college campus's of at least 20,000+ in population or more. I am currently residing in Orlando, FL home of some decent hookah businesses. I am looking to network with like minded individuals so we can all help each others dreams become a reality. I have very ambitious goals and can't wait to chat with some of you and hear your ideas.

James

Lets get this thread kicking again!

[WillStartUp]

If anyone is willing to part with some information concerning costs and what not that would be nice.

Or if anyone in Texas might be curious a partnership or something along those lines that might be interesting as well. There are a couple of major markets in Texas that I have already researched for hookah bars, and it is a very promising market.

Either way just post a response here, and we'll figure something out.

[MissG]

Hello everyone, my name is James and I am going to school for a business bachelors right now and am dead set on opening a hookah lounge/chain on college campus's of at least 20,000+ in population or more. I am currently residing in Orlando, FL home of some decent hookah businesses. I am looking to network with like minded individuals so we can all help each others dreams become a reality. I have very ambitious goals and can't wait to chat with some of you and hear your ideas.

James

Lets get this thread kicking again!

hey james, Im currently going to school at the University of West Florida, and I have been thinking about opening up a hookah lounge here since there is like zero to be found! If you would like to network with one another let me know!

[taweel85]

man can you contact me i can buy you hookahs and ship them to you but tell me about the amount you need exactly taweel85@gmail i am staying in dubai i can help you out in this business

[Seamless]

Hello everyone, my name is James and I am going to school for a business bachelors right now and am dead set on opening a hookah lounge/chain on college campus's of at least 20,000+ in population or more. I am currently residing in Orlando, FL home of some decent hookah businesses. I am looking to network with like minded individuals so we can all help each others dreams become a reality. I have very ambitious goals and can't wait to chat with some of you and hear your ideas.

James

Lets get this thread kicking again!

That sounds like an incredible opportunity! I have definitely noticed in the past couple months that Hookah hangouts are seriously taking off. I only know of one really good one here in Atlanta and I am hoping to see some more spring up soon!
I agree. It's important to form some good networking in this area of business to get your name out there! I am starting with Biz Ad Splash to advertise my t-shirt business. So far so good. You should check it out.

[alex0047]

Are you in Evansville IN? If so and if you're still wanting to do something I may be able to help.

[Floid]

Sounds cool. Any competition in the area? If so, you might want to see what they do right, and what you can do better than them.

[Deus]

What a coincidence! I went online looking for a place I could get furniture and such for the hookah lounge I'm planning to open, and Lo and Behold! I find this forum.
So far, I have contacted 3 hookah wholesalers, 1 a few weeks ago and 2 just today, so I only have the cataloge from hookahwholesalers.com

According to my calculations, it will cost roughly $4000 for the hookahs/coals/shisha/etc. This is for 38 hookahs, 12 of which are for sale.
Additionally, I need to find out how much rent will be, the cost of furniture and decorations, and food and drinks to be served.

With a hookah lounge, there are really only 2 ways to go:
- You can give it a Middle Eastern theme to give it an exotic feel.
- Or you can give it a classy, upscale feel, like a VIP lounge.

Personally, I think I will go with the upscale feel, mostly because it is easier and cheaper to furnish.
I live in a college town, with 40,000 undergraduate students.

I'm fairly experienced with Hookahs, so let me provide a few tips for good smoking that I've learned through trial and error (mostly error)
- Use 3-4 smaller pieces of coal as opposed to 1 big one. This causes the shisha to burn slower and more evenly
- Nammor hoses are the best hoses. They are a bit more expensive, but they draw incredibly well and stay very, very clean
- Try mixing flavors and in different ratios. Half and half cinnamon and apple is okay. 3 parts cinnamon and 1 part apple is one of my favorite flavors ever. Apple pie.
- Double layer the foil on top so it doesn't burn as often
- Many small holes is better than a few big holes
- Pack the bowl "fluffy" so there is good air flow. This brings out the flavor of the shisha
- Personally, I have had bad experiences with auto-seal hookahs. They tend to get stuck so you have to remove the hose connector and it's just a big hassel
- I have also had bad experiences with hand painted bases. When it gets wet, it chips. Go with etched or otherwise decorated bases.
- Juice, wine, or liquor is very good in the base. Just make sure the wine and liquor is diluted
- Milk is supposed to thicken the smoke, but I've never noticed a big difference. Plus, if you don't clean it out soon, it gets disgusting

When it comes to smoking hookah, I know my stuff. But I don't know so much of the business side of things. Any ideas? Like good operating hours, prices, events, offers, etc? Oh, and help with furnishing would be appreciated too.

[bdubc]

We have a Hookah bar where I'm from I never got a chance to go there but I have always wanted to and still do. It does seem like a great Idea especially if there are none in your town. I know you will get a lot of curious people to come, so I think the main challenge is to keep them coming.