Previously occupied by Shakedown Street, a bar and music venue, the building on the corner of Horne and Hillsborough streets has changed, once again, into a hookah bar.
Since its opening Dec. 1, Nara Lounge, a coffee and hookah café, has attracted crowds of students and casual customers through its patio and into the Middle Eastern-themed establishment.
Inside, patrons indulge on tea, coffee, pastries and a kind of flavored tobacco called “shisha.” Owner Refaat Soboh can oftentimes be seen sitting playing table games and smoking with friends and family.
Tareq Alakhras, manager of Nara Lounge, said he finds the atmosphere both engaging and relaxing.
“For some reason everybody that comes in here becomes a friend,” Alakhras said. “I can sit with anybody. It gets hard sometimes because I’m friends with everybody and want to treat everyone nicer than I can.”
According to Alakhras, Nara’s busiest hours come in the early morning on the way to classes and work, and after dinner when it’s time to wind down.
“Sometimes it’s really quiet, sometimes there are a lot of people,” Alakhras said. “I really enjoy being here no matter how busy it gets.”
The lounge opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at roughly 2 a.m. each day. Marissa Morgan, a junior in English and an employee at Nara Lounge, doesn’t mind the long hours.
“It’s not much like work at all,” said Morgan. “It’s more like hanging out. Hookah is a very social thing and creates a sort of bond.”
Use of the hookah started in Turkey after the Turkish occupation of the Arab world and gradually gained popularity, spreading to more parts of the globe.
Shisha typically contains tobacco, molasses, nicotine and tar, and still poses health risks.
The lounge recently started offering free WiFi for students to work while they are there. People can book the lounge for parties or even presentations. Morgan said it’s a very popular place for students to come after a night out.
“The mix of the atmosphere and the hookah is appealing to customers,” Morgan said. “It’s a chill place.”
On the menu, Lavazza coffee, which has been supplying businesses with Italian beverages since the 1800s, compliments Middle Eastern pastries and pies. If diners are feeling a little less adventurous, Pop-Tarts and Nature Valley granola bars are also available for purchase.
Along with the worldly collection of coffees, Nara’s menu boasts a selection of 16 different types of green tea as well as seven variations of black tea.
Other than a few exceptions, the employees are open to modifying orders to fit a customer’s specifications. They prepare custom drinks and mix shisha flavors for the hookahs as new combinations are a welcome addition to the already diverse menu.
“We want to make sure everyone who walks in here leaves happy,” Alakhras said. “If they want something, they can have it.”
