BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A hookah lounge on West Chimes Street near LSU’s campus was denied a rezoning application that would have allowed it to pursue an alcohol license. This comes after residents and a neighboring business owner spoke out against the request at a city planning and zoning commission meeting.
Kwane Douglas, business manager of the Lotus, said the lounge applied to be rezoned in order to then apply for an alcohol license.
What the Lotus proposed
Douglas said the Lotus typically offers open mic nights, poetry, games, and live music. He said the goal was to expand the lounge’s offerings.
“We wanted to be able to serve daiquiris and light beer and wine as part of the hookah experience here at the Lotus,” Douglas said.
Residents push back
When Douglas presented the plan to the city’s planning and zoning commission, nearby residents testified in opposition…