Lounge Idea Agitates Some
Two Lakeland officials oppose Hookah Palace.

By Rick Rousos
The Ledger - Published Sunday, June 5, 2005

LAKELAND -- Mention the planned downtown Hookah Palace -- a Middle Eastern themed smoking lounge that will feature beer, wine and belly dancing -- and Mayor Buddy Fletcher does a slow burn.

On June 20, city commissioners will vote on whether to allow the Hookah Palace to do business at 119 S. Kentucky Ave.

The smoking in the lounge would come from an exotic hookah water pipe. Cigarettes and cigars won't be allowed.

Similar businesses are spreading through the country. But that doesn't sway Fletcher and Commissioner Glenn Higgins. They say they'll vote to deny the hopeful owner, Soloman Wassef, the right to operate.

Fletcher said the city has poured millions of dollars into improving downtown and shouldn't embrace a business that causes cancer.

"We have a quality name," he said during a city meeting Friday. "But this is not a quality business."

Higgins was shaken by the idea of belly dancers performing on Friday and Saturday nights. He said if the city allows belly dancing, it may be powerless to stop nude entertainment.

"Belly dancers -- would this require an adult entertainment license?" Higgins asked.

"We're not going that far with it," Assistant City Attorney Palmer Davis replied, drawing a hearty round of belly laughs from city officials.

Wassef was unavailable for comment. He has assured the city that the belly dancing will be tasteful.

Commissioner Gow Fields said that smoking is prevalent in every bar in the city, and this one would be no different. He said he doesn't smoke or drink, but it would be hypocritical not to allow smoking in a bar on Kentucky Avenue and allow it everywhere else.

Commissioners said they've received some complaints about the potential puffing business from other downtown business owners. Wassef, however, did get the approval of the city's Planning and Zoning Board last month.

If their record of approving alcoholic beverage establishments in the past few years holds true, Higgins and Fletcher will vote against the proposal and the vote will be 5-2.

If it passes, the city will require patrons to be at least 21. The lounge will be closed during the day and open at 5 p.m.