Until now, Binghamton University students have had to know someone with a hookah — or buy one themselves — in order to enjoy a relaxing water-pipe smoke now and again.
But now a BU senior named Evan Franca, along with business partner Robert Ruggiero, have the rest taken care of. Last weekend marked the opening of The Oasis, Binghamton’s first and only hookah bar, located on 142 Washington St.
Hookahs, to put it simply, are elaborate devices through which flavored tobacco or herbs, referred to as shisha, can be smoked. The smoke is much less harsh than that of cigarettes because it must first pass through a water bowl — a feature which makes hookahs more “user friendly” for casual smokers, or for those with “virgin lungs.”
A hookah bar, as the name might suggest, is a place where groups of people can relax, enjoy some flavored shisha, have a soda or two and maybe grab a bite to eat.
The hookah phenomenon has been spreading like fire through large cities and college towns across America.
Some might ask what sort of customers a venue catering to such a specialized interest might attract. Franca is confident his hookah bar will draw crowds — for several reasons.
“For starters,” he said, “there’s really nothing legal for kids under 21 to do Downtown. If anyone from 18 to 20 years old is getting into bars, they’re taking a risk.”
Due to this, Franca explained, he feels there is a huge untapped market for people of that age group.
Also, he said, “a hookah bar is an alternative to drinking seven nights a week, and it offers an environment that is more open to conversation than a bar.”
While this particular “bar” won’t be serving alcohol, The Oasis does offer sodas, coffee, some light meals and, of course, plenty of shisha.
“Right now we have about 25 flavors and next month we’ll be adding even more,” Franca said.
The flavors range from apple to watermelon and include much in between. And this shisha, Franca said, is different from that provided at most hookah bars: the Soex brand shisha he’s selling is free of tar, nicotine and tobacco, he said, making the smoking non-addictive and less unhealthy.
“The smoke is very smooth and very sweet and it’s really a lot healthier,” Franca said. “All the risks are virtually gone.”
The smoother texture of the smoke, Franca explained, allows even first-timers to enjoy the hookah without coughing.
On top of the authentic Turkish, Egyptian and Indian dÃ.écor which give the bar its ambience, Franca plans on adding more to his on-going project.
“I was thinking about adding live bands, small theater performances and maybe a comedy night,” he said.
Downtown’s newest addition is generating some hype, especially from other local stores.
“I haven’t yet met the owners of this place,” said Kane James, a self-proclaimed expert on anything hookah-related and employee at Sugar Mountain, a Court Street head shop, “but I’m sure our relationship is going to be amicable.”
Sugar Mountain is a hot spot for hookah fans, it being one of the few places in the Triple Cities area to sell hookahs, shisha and other accessories.
“Anything that’s related to what we’ve got here is going to be good for everybody,” James said. “It’ll draw more people in. Our businesses will help each other.”
The hookahs at the bar run for $10 per rental, with up to five people using each. There are also Egyptian hookahs for sale, which run from $50 to $150 each.
The Oasis is currently open Tuesday through Saturday. It opens at 6 p.m. on the weekends and 8 p.m. during the week.