The Town of Ashland City Beer Board has okayed a permit for Cheatham County’s first hookah bar to open up on Main Street in Ashland City and serve beer at the establishment, provided the owners meet all the requirements from codes and state law. The owners of Midnight Lounge, 307 North Main St., met with the Beer Board on Oct. 8.
According to documentation of the meeting from the City Recorder’s Office, the Mayor questioned whether food would be served at the business, and the owners responded they would. The law states 60% of the sales must be food-related purchases.
The council also questioned the owners, Martin Azer, Shady Mankarious, and Acram Garas, about the hours of operation for the business. The owners stated they planned to be open five days a week from 2:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. The Ashland City Council voted to approve the permit under the condition that the owners met all the requirements from codes and state law.
Hookah lounges are not new to Middle Tennessee, with businesses in Clarksville, Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Lebanon. Hookahs are water pipes that were first used in ancient Persia and India. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hookahs are used to smoke specially made tobacco that comes in different flavors. The CDC said hookah smoking carries the same health risks as cigarette smoking.
