News Nearby: Hookah Bar Opens In Pine

Hookah is very popular on college campuses, and now hookah lovers have a new place to smoke and socialize in Pine Township.

Heavenly Hookah opened its doors March 2 and, according to owner Joshua Helfer, already is enjoying a brisk business—particularly on the weekends.

Located at 11883 Perry Highway, across from the Aldi’s grocery store, Heavenly Hookah has seating for 60, mostly on leather sofas and chairs. The hookah bar is divided into three smoking areas: one featuring big screen televisions, another with just music and a third, private VIP room. 

“We wanted it to be upscale, no one sitting on egg cartons, and attract not only young people but older professionals,” Helfer said. “Some of our clientele have included physicians and Fortune 500 company owners.” 

A hookah is a single or multi-stemmed instrument for smoking flavored tobacco that is soaked in molasses. The smoke is passed through a water basin before inhalation. The tobacco smoked is referred to as “shisha” and comes in as many as 50 flavors. It has been very popular in the Middle East for years. 

“Because the tobacco is never lit and the smoke is filtered through the water, there is no tar and much, much less nicotine that cigarettes,” Helfer said. “You could walk in here on a Saturday night and the place could be packed with smokers, but when you left, your clothes would not smell like smoke.” 

A mortgage banker by trade, Helfer got the idea to open a hookah bar from his stepson, Richard Morrison, who recently graduated from the University of Cincinnati. 

“He told me that unless you are 21, there is nowhere college-age people can go to socialize in the North Hills, and he thought a hookah bar would be perfect,” Helfer said. 

Not everyone is welcome at Heavenly Hookah.

“We card everyone, and no one under the age of 18 is allowed, and we don’t allow cigarette or cigar smoking either, “ Helfer said. “I just wanted to create a nice, safe atmosphere where people can come and smoke some hookah and socialize.”