ALL DRESSED UP WITH
NO PLACE TO SMOKE
Eugene hookah lounges wait to fire up BY LANCE SPARKS
T
Shady Yasim
TRASK BEDORTHA
his is how a story is born in cash-strapped
journalism: Editor of mag dishes up stew of
possible stories, emails same to dogsbody
freelancer (DF, me), writes for groats. DF pores
over list: “This food fad… that diner… hookah bar….” DF
reacts: WTF?! Wazzupwidat?! Hookah? Bar? Some dude
has seen the future and made it so! Email back to ed: I’m
on it!
Dash out to ancient Honda, do wheelie out of driveway,
slam breaks — FIRST, back inside, thrash around for
baggie of dried herbal material, um, oregano maybe,
somethin’ to share in communal bowl, stow in sock, but
WAIT!
Race back to ‘puter, Google hookah bars. Already
know hookah, right? Water pipe with multiple hoses for
social puffin’ of herbal matter, often tobacco in some form,
with deep history in Middle East (guys plunk down on
carpet under tent that passes for Sahara shade, load bowl,
drop in coal, puffemup on separate hoses, drink tea, talk
smack). New versions promote “socializing in a multi-
cultural setting.” (Um, apparently new versions unrelated
to psychoactive herbs; empty sock, de-stash.)
Google yields about a zillion hits in a nanosecond,
shows sites listing nearly 500 hookah bars/lounges in U.S.,
every state and D.C. — with five new opening every
month — but also Canada, U.K., Spain, Netherlands,
Russia. Attached stories reveal major pushback against
lounges in various places. Anti-tobacco prohibitionists and
health nannies are attacking hookah lounges as “unhealthy”;
for instance, Michigan has passed law that will close all
hookah lounges by not renewing licenses. List on hookah-
bars.com is already outdated but shows 11 lounges in
Oregon, eight in Portland, one in Corvallis, one Beaverton,
one Springfield (Candy Shak, 2251 Main), none in Eugene
— wrong!
Eugene has jumped the craze, now has two: Mirage
Hookah Lounge, at 2164 W. 7th, and Al Narah Hookah
Lounge, 1530 Willamette (previously Ratatouille). Roll
the Honda, more sedately, Intrepid Reporter-style. Don IR
cap, take notebook, recorder, smart phone, ready.
Mirage closed tight, no hours/days/phone listed (opens
only at night — tight deadline precludes follow-up).
Al Narah is open. Inside, joint exudes cool, lavenderish
walls, regular tables for two, more tables, low-lying with
cushy pillows for lounging parties, dim lights, flat-screens,
but no people, not a whiff of smoke. One poor guy perches
behind counter, workin’ on ‘Net, knows nothing about the
biz. Snoop, find list of offered tobaccos, two brands:
Starbuzz offers 72 flavors, Social Smoke 77, with names
like Wild Mango, Cotton Candy, Caramel Frappucino,
Dragon’s Breath. Prices $13 bowl/$7 refill. Menu of non-
alcoholic drinks, tiny list of food (Top Ramen $1.50, Mac
& Cheese $2.50, Popcorn $2). Hookahs for sale, $10 for
small, up to $70 for tall and fancy). Lots of tobaccos, all
the flavors, tins large and small.
Owner arrives, Shady Yasim (Shady pronounced like
shad, the fish, not like shade), 25 years old, dynamic,
speaks un-accented English (born in Los Angeles,
Jordanian heritage). He’s pumped from long ‘chat’ with
Eugene Planning and Development Department, folks
prohibiting smoking within Al Narah.
Shady and his sister Lara own Al Narah in Gresham,
and Shady notes, “I’ve been open two years and I’ve never
had a problem or an issue at my Gresham location.” His
place is not a bar; nobody gets drunk here, and the form of
smoking is “socially accepted everywhere.” Shady wants
to “show people that this is a great asset, does business,
pays taxes” and is “a great social environment.” He adds,
“It’s a culture we’re trying to bring here.” Shady flashes a
letter written by neighbor Absolute Wellness Center,
showing support for Al Narah.
So far, though, Al Narah Hookah Lounge is all dressed
up but nobody can smoke. The shisha, the flavored
tobaccos, smell great — in the can. Shady Yasim is trying
to stay open, noting, “It’s not illegal.” But his is a story for
our times. ■
HAPPY 23RD BIRTHDAY!
Traditional
Greek & Indian
Food
992 Willamette
Eugene, OR 97401
343-9661
Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen
Wants Yo’
BIG ASS
To...
EAT
SOUL
FOOD!
LUNCH
DINNER
CATERING
Tues-Fri
12-2 & 5-10pm
Sat 2-10pm
400 Blair Blvd. 342-7500
6 CHOW! Winter 2011
chow.eugeneweekly.com