Hookah lounges havens for culture as well as smoking

Schaumburg now has six of them, but when the first opened two years ago, proprietors had to explain to village officials what a hookah lounge was in the first place.

Fumare Lounge at 305 W. Golf Road opened in early 2006, proceeding the village's own smoking ban in 2007.

Co-owner Azeem Syed said he first had to explain that hookah pipes aren't meant for illegal drugs but for various types of flavored tobacco, many fruit-based.

Aria Lounge, with locations in Schaumburg, Grayslake, Addison and Glendale Heights, offers, for example, flavors ranging from vanilla cappuccino to banana split.

While the hookah is generally believed to have originated in India, it gained popularity early in the Arab world and continues to be commonly associated with countries like Turkey, Egypt and Morocco.

But hookah smoking has been grown more popular in the U.S., particularly among young adults.

Because hookah lounges don't serve alcohol, they've provided a place to socialize for those too young to drink legally, Syed said.

Fumare's atmosphere aims to evoke Middle Eastern culture, including through music, food and interior design.

In fact, patrons of Fumare Lounge are strongly encouraged to eat something before using the hookah, as smoking on an empty stomach may cause nausea, Syed added.