Tucson hookah lounges now must close by midnight, unless the place has a liquor license, then it can close at 2:00 a.m., the same time as Tucson’s bars. Hookah Lounges also can’t open until after 7:00 a.m..
Tucson’s City Council unanimously passed an ordinance regulating hookah lounges’ hours in their Thursday evening meeting.
Majority of Tucson’s hookah lounges already close at 2:00 a.m, and almost all of them open well after 7:00 a.m.. One of the earlier-openers is a lounge called Espresso Art Cafe. The owner there says he agrees with the new regulations, and their business won’t be affected.
Owner Paul Mannheim said that majority of their business happens between 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., with most of their customers emptying out before closing time.
“At night, it’s already pretty slow,” he said, describing the last few hours they’re open each night. “There’s going to be hardly anyone here. If it’s a weekend, there are a few people still hanging about and the bar might be busy.”