Smoking ban causing hookah bars to lose profits, customers
DeWitt resident Allie Gawura breathes out the smoke from the apricot, mellow melon and pineapple flavored hookah she and her friend (not pictured) are smoking July 20 at Blue Midnight Hookah Lounge, 330 Albert Ave. Gawura said she was denied a glass of water while she was smoking, which is a result of the statewide smoking ban that was put into place May 1.
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Although most still are in operation, some local hookah bars have watched their profits go up in smoke as a result of Michigan’s workplace smoking ban.
The law prohibits smoking in public areas, but because more than 75 percent of sales are derived from tobacco products, hookah lounges such as Blue Midnight Hookah Lounge, 330 Albert Ave., are not required to cut smoke from the premises, owner Patrick Kent said.
Because smoking is allowed, most foods are not, Kent said.
“Now, the way that the law reads, we can serve food, but it has to be ‘shelf stable,’” he said. “We can’t serve anything hot, we can’t serve anything cold (and) we can’t serve anything prepared.”
Kent said many customers have expressed dismay over the change in the law.
Photo: DeWitt resident ...
“We had really good hummus and some really good wraps,” Kent said. “A lot of our regulars, they were sad to see it go. But all of my customers have been very understanding of the smoking ban and supportive of the Blue Midnight.”
At Saylis Hookah Lounge & Café, 300 N. Clippert St., in Lansing, restrictions on food being served have decreased sales nearly 40 percent from their pre-smoking ban levels, owner Mahad Bussuri said.
“We had cheesecakes, smoothies, ice creams, light food like a meat pie type of thing, Middle Eastern (and) African cuisine type of stuff,” Bussuri said. “It was different, and people were looking forward to those types of things. Now we are not able to serve those.”
Having opened less than a year ago, Bussuri said he wishes he had opened somewhere outside of Michigan.
“We did not think about this law that was going to come and hit us so soon,” Bussuri said. “If I would have known about it, I wouldn’t even have taken the chance. Basically, I have dug myself in a hole and we can’t get out of it. All the money that went in, we can’t get back.”
Although it won’t affect her trip to a hookah bar, being unable to eat while smoking is unfortunate, advertising sophomore Maggie Ortlieb said.
“(Eating while smoking is) just like a social thing,” Ortlieb said. “We would probably still go, but when we are there, it just makes it nicer.”
Despite customers’ disappointment, Blue Midnight still sees nearly as many sales as before the smoking ban, Kent said. On an average weeknight, he said he gets 45-50 customers, and double that on the weekends.
“It has affected us a little bit, but the bottom line is we still have hookah,” Kent said.
Commentary
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Lena
(07/26/10 10:22pm)Report
I’m not a big fan of hookah but I loved the hummus/shakes at Blue Midnight…what a bummer. Although I didn’t mind the smoking ban in general, the fact that this affects hookah lounges is just silly.
stugats
(07/27/10 10:32am)Report
You can still have food/drink delivered in hookah lounges. A lot of hookah places have formed deals with nearby restaurants to accomodate their customers. I applaud Mr. Kent for continuing to meet his customers’ needs while obeying the law.
Mick Buber
(07/27/10 1:15pm)Report
I should mention one particular side-effect.
Impotence.
Greg
(07/27/10 2:22pm)Report
This is why hookah bars should carry those Crown7 electric cigarettes and E-hookah’s to offer their customers.
@stugats
(07/27/10 3:16pm)Report
Mr. Kent is not able to meet his customers’ needs because we want what they had before…hummus, pita, cookies, etc. There is no reason why the smoking ban has to legislate what a hookah lounge can serve, as far as food is concerned. The customers that enter an establishment, such as Blue Midnight, know exactly what they want…hookah and occasionally some great tasting food.
stugats
(07/27/10 3:52pm)Report
To be clear, there is no “hookah bar” exemption. Only tobacco specialty retail store exemptions. The law is pretty clear, a TSRS cannot have a food or beverage license of any kind. You want food? Order from Woody’s or talk to Mr Kent and ask for his recommendations on food in the area.
Ban Outdoor Smoking
(07/27/10 4:39pm)Report
As foolish as smoking of any kind including hookahs is, banning smoking from inside of establishments is foolish. Now, we have to deal with all of the smokers out in the public space and their cigarette butt pollution. Keeping people inside while smoking was much better for everyone.
Jon
(07/27/10 7:17pm)Report
Mick Buber wrote:
I should mention one particular side-effect (of e-cigarettes).
Impotence.
Thanks Mick for being fair and objective in your analysis. I too have heard that those e-cigarettes cause impotence. Certainly won’t be buying one of those anytime soon!
Impotence-Unlike Button (click)
(07/27/10 7:41pm)Report
Its a real downer.
Chrissy @ Ban Outdoor Smoking
(07/27/10 7:51pm)Report
Ban Outdoor Smoking, your post doesn’t make sense. IF the smokers are indoors you have to smell their smoke all night long. Most likely, you will be indoors NOT outdoors where the smoke will be and if you do go outdoors it will be for a brief time as you enter or leave the building. I think you need to re-think what you posted:)
@Chrissy
(07/27/10 9:02pm)Report
Chrissy, nope, you read it right. Outdoor smoking should be banned. I don’t have to go into a bar, restaurant, etc that allows people to smoke, therefor I don’t have to deal with their smoking. I do, however, walk outside and have to pass by all of the people who stand on the sidewalk and smoke. Just look outside of bars, etc after they close for the day — cigarette butts everywhere and you have to deal with their smoke. Keep them indoors.
Chrissy
(07/27/10 9:34pm)Report
Now I see what you are saying. I misunderstood. I have to agree with your point of view. I don’t like walking through a cloud of smoke myself. Thanks for clearing that up for me, now I got it!! Haha:) Have a great day!
Thomas Laprade
(07/28/10 12:17am)Report
A smoking ban means: it is against the law to use or permit a legal product on
‘private’ property.
http://thetruthisalie.com
http://fightingback.monestead.com
n
(07/29/10 5:48pm)Report
I suggest when people complained about
people smoking cigarettes, you didn’t care, but now no smoking with food, in
hookah bar.
Beginning lost of Freedom.