The location at the corner of Lombard and N Richmond has been having trouble holding a tenant these last few years, sitting vacant since Blue Moon Coffee moved out last fall. Recently, St. Johns residents saw a new business take root. On April 30, the doors opened to Sultan Hookah Lounge and Smoke Shop, with a grand opening celebration that took place on May 8.

“About 300 people came through the night,” says co-owner Mike Makoul. “We had DJ music...the neighborhood has been very supportive.”

Makoul opened the Hookah Lounge with business partner Asem Samman because of the anti-smoking legislation that went into effect last year. Makoul has owned the Sultan Cafe on NW 18th for the past six years. In addition to being a restaurant, the cafe offered patrons hookah smoking. As of 2009, that was no longer permitted in establishments primarily serving food. Wanting to continue the Middle Eastern tradition of his youth, Makoul sought to find a new establishment to be built around hookahs.

“The law says that 75% of our business has to be tobacco related...we're trying to stay close to 90%.” Makoul explains that the smoking law permits businesses to be smoking lounges so long as that is their primary function. The Sultan Lounge does offer snacks and beverages, but these refreshments are ancillary to their main business of selling tobacco products and offering a lounge for hookah smoking.

Tonight the Jefferson High School cafeteria was host to the Public Safety Open House.  Citizens were invited to ask questions of a panel of policy makers including City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, County Commissioner Jeff Cogen, State Senator Chip Shields, Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Shrunk, and State Representative Lew Frederick.