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Opening a hookah bar?
    #6707017 -

I just wanted to get everyones thoughts on how successful and realistic opening a Hookah Bar would be. This is for pure curiosity, I know alot of it depends on real estate market, competition, and location.

My question is provided all these conditions were properly met, how realistic would it be.

To me, it seems like your would need far less capital than some other ventures, and overhead would be pretty low. Licenses would obviously be an issue. Ideal business hours are probably in the evening, graveyard...meaning shifts would be some what short, and while one person was maintaining the business, the other could be working to supliment personal income, and some extra to invest in business. Meaning salary and other wages did not have to be factored in immediately.

The price of minor interior decorating, some furnature, hookahs, tobacco and products.

This is of course why I am here to ask for some opinions. I may be too focused on the good, and not able to bring some of the downsides to mind.


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The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: tak]
    #6707019 -

How are you going to get people to come to your hookah bar? Or to even know that it exists?

That's what you really have to worry about.

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: tak]
    #6707030 -

i used to think about this, stopped when i started trying to figure out how i'd make any money

it would be a sweet job though. but i don't see it ever turning much of a profit.


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"Outside of a dog a book is a man's friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read"
-Groucho Marx

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: tak]
    #6707056 -

There's two hookah bars here in College Station. Both of them are a huge success. One of them is just real chill, couches and music to lounge around. The other one is a hookah club in our bar/club district. Dance music, lights, full bar. Just put it in a young part of town and you should do fine.


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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: bobjones]
    #6707058 -

bobjones said:
i used to think about this, stopped when i started trying to figure out how i'd make any money

it would be a sweet job though. but i don't see it ever turning much of a profit.


Simple, buy stuff from outside the US. Hookahs in other countries are usually better than the US made hookahs, and the price is significantly cheaper. Obviously for a business you cant buy everything from outside the US because you dont want to have to pay tax on the stuff. So, buy the initial hookahs at about 20 dollars a piece (expensive for middle eastern hookahs) and find a supplier for coals and shisha in the US. You are a business so you buy in bulk which can usually get you some pretty sweet deals. Then what you do is factor in how much shisha per box, bag or tub you will get per bowl packed. Factor that pricing into how much you want to rent hookahs out for. If one tub of shisha has 10 bowls and you buy it for 5 dollars a tub, add two dollars to the price of shisha so you are making profit on the shisha. The hookah price to rent should be low but you should have different pricing ranges. You can have the cheap price (lets say) $10 for shisha, coal, and water to rent. Then, you can add 2-3 dollars for ice to that initial price. Finally you can have "specials" which may included apple juice or slices inside the hookah for a better taste. Add $8 for that. You see how you can turn profit? You just have to know how to make the profit. Obviously it would take time to make a profit because you would need to spend money on marketing, leasing the space, furniture and other expenses. But once you pay some of those things off you can fill your bank accounts quickly.


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There is not a lot of difference between a fox hole and a grave; but knowing that you dug your ditch and climbed in anyway.

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: LloydChristmas]
    #6707067 -

There's one in my area too. I've never had the chance to check it out, but I hear that it's fairly successful.


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Today while walking up the stairs
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
Oh how I wish he'd stay away

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: bobjones]
    #6707076 -

Making large profits are first are not mandatory, but I feel with an established name, and customer base, it could easily expand into more.

I have background, and good ideas for advertising. This would be a major part of it, because location would probably be off the main drag for lowering rent.

I have some unique ideas for the environment that would keep people coming back, that tailors to multiple types of crowds.

I am trying to figure out how little capital would be needed to open something like this. Of course more would be better, but I want to plan things with worst case scenario, to be prepared.

I need to find out what regulations they have as far as indoor smoking, and proper ventilation. Then cost of furniture, appliances, etc...I really do not see costs being out of this world.

I would of course want to have quite a few months rent and utilities stored in the bank. Any suggestions as to how far ahead you should plan for taking NO income into consideration? 1/4, 1/2, 1 year?


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The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: tak]
    #6707081 -

you better not be opening it up in my town or we will be competetors!!!!!!! to the death!!!!

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: AaronEvil]
    #6707088 -

I read your o2 bar, hookah bar post quite a while back. If you have any more advise, i would be really interested in it.

Please, let me know of downsides, I want to remain real about this, and factor in everything


--------------------
The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: AaronEvil]
    #6707146 -

AaronEvil said:
bobjones said:
i used to think about this, stopped when i started trying to figure out how i'd make any money

it would be a sweet job though. but i don't see it ever turning much of a profit.


Simple, buy stuff from outside the US. Hookahs in other countries are usually better than the US made hookahs, and the price is significantly cheaper. Obviously for a business you cant buy everything from outside the US because you dont want to have to pay tax on the stuff. So, buy the initial hookahs at about 20 dollars a piece (expensive for middle eastern hookahs) and find a supplier for coals and shisha in the US. You are a business so you buy in bulk which can usually get you some pretty sweet deals. Then what you do is factor in how much shisha per box, bag or tub you will get per bowl packed. Factor that pricing into how much you want to rent hookahs out for. If one tub of shisha has 10 bowls and you buy it for 5 dollars a tub, add two dollars to the price of shisha so you are making profit on the shisha. The hookah price to rent should be low but you should have different pricing ranges. You can have the cheap price (lets say) $10 for shisha, coal, and water to rent. Then, you can add 2-3 dollars for ice to that initial price. Finally you can have "specials" which may included apple juice or slices inside the hookah for a better taste. Add $8 for that. You see how you can turn profit? You just have to know how to make the profit. Obviously it would take time to make a profit because you would need to spend money on marketing, leasing the space, furniture and other expenses. But once you pay some of those things off you can fill your bank accounts quickly.


yeah...i've thought about all that.
for me, it would never turn over enough profit to make it worth it.
unless i was like 60+ and wasn't worrying about money anymore.


--------------------
"Outside of a dog a book is a man's friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read"
-Groucho Marx

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: bobjones]
    #6707740 -

I hope you don't live in a state that is banning smoking in buildings or plans to do so..


--------------------
I don't know what's gonna happen man, but I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames. -Jim Morrison

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: guitarguy0123]
    #6707752 -

I would think a hookah bar would be an exception... there's no sense banning smoking in a place which exists solely for the purpose of smoking.


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I find your lack of faith disturbing

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: Konnrade]
    #6708113 -

Hey tak, we had a hukka bar near UCF that did real well. They served drinks and hordurvs and sold hukkas & tobacco etc. Ya its low overhead and fairly trendy, but you usually plan on not making a profit for about a year or so, just the way it goes. I drew up a business proposal for my gormet shroom grow and i had to have 18 or 24 month projections. Best way to do it is to bust out excel and think of EVERY single thing u need to spend money on (staff, liquor license, liquor, hukkas/pipes/tobacco, rent, insurence, electricity, water, advertising, chairs, tables, menus, sinks, restrooms, food, music system), then figure out your income potential and plan for worst case and average senerios. Best place has got to be near a university where people are looking for a place to chill/study/party. If you're on now, come in #cannabis and we'll go over some shit


--------------------
If you're frightened of dying and you're holding on.you'll see devils tearing your life away.
But...if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels
Freeing you from the earth.

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: Eightball]
    #6708255 -

Spike the bowls with some kief. It'll be a big hit. :wink:
Sounds like a cool idea. I'd chill at a hookah bar.


--------------------
"If the words 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' don't include the right to experiment
with your own consciousness, then the Declaration of Independence isn't worth the hemp
it was written on." -Terence McKenna
Marijuana Myths Debunked

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: Sebastian23]
    #6708431 -

you should sell salvia leaf and extracts for people to smoke! Unfortunately, when I do salvia, my goal is always to stay in reality by trying to grab things, stand, etc.. Does salvia make anyone else hot?? i was in 63 F and burning up sweating..


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I don't know what's gonna happen man, but I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames. -Jim Morrison

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: guitarguy0123]
    #6708439 -

guitarguy0123 said:
I hope you don't live in a state that is banning smoking in buildings or plans to do so..


In california its illegal to smoke inside but with a smoking permit (not too hard to obtain for this kind of business) you can have smoking indoors. Though there is a wierd part of the law that prohibits cigarettes inside. At least that is what I am told by the hookah bar owner that I go to. It used to be legal but they had to stop allowing people to smoke cigs inside due to an amendment in the law.


--------------------


There is not a lot of difference between a fox hole and a grave; but knowing that you dug your ditch and climbed in anyway.

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: guitarguy0123]
    #6708441 -

yes, getting hot and sweaty on salvia is a very common effect of the plant...

peace

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: AaronEvil]
    #6708458 -

AaronEvil said:
In california its illegal to smoke inside but with a smoking permit (not too hard to obtain for this kind of business) you can have smoking indoors. Though there is a wierd part of the law that prohibits cigarettes inside. At least that is what I am told by the hookah bar owner that I go to. It used to be legal but they had to stop allowing people to smoke cigs inside due to an amendment in the law.


That's good they have smoking permits so they don't eliminate this type of business.


--------------------
I don't know what's gonna happen man, but I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames. -Jim Morrison

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: guitarguy0123]
    #6708789 -

I am trying to figure out what the best location would be. Of course one would want a central location, close to everyone, with lots of traffic. This comes at a price though, and I am trying to find a compromise.

I do not really imagine much unintended traffic will come from people shopping at other stores in a nice area. We will be open later, and target customer probably has their mind set on going, and does not accidently stumble into the place.

Do you think people would be willing to travel a little if the environment was great, and there was sufficient advertising?

I know places we have gone were well off the normal path, but it was worth going every time due to the atmosphere.

I would hate to get locked into a $4,000 a month lease in a popular area, when down a couple streets, around a corner there is a place that will give 90% of the other one, for $600 a month.

Do you think most people have their mind set on going to a hookah bar before they go, or is foot traffic a big deal?


--------------------
The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.

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Re: Opening a hookah bar? [Re: tak]
    #6708865 -

There's one here in State College that's a huge success. It just changed ownership, and the new owner fixed up a corner for a stage and has a sweet PA system for bands.


--------------------
When the going gets wierd, the wierd turn pro.

-H. S. Thompson

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Shop: Original Sensible Seeds Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds   North Spore North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits & Cultivation Supplies   Sporeworks.EU Spores for European Microscopy   Unfolding Nature Unfolding Nature: Being in the Implicate Order   MagicBag.co Certified Organic All-In-One Grow Bags by Magic Bag

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