New Huka shop opens at NIU

By. JENI LODOLCE

Bill Harb is the owner of a new hookah cafe, Huka Corner. The cafe will open next week and will feature a hookah bar with flavored tobacco, pool tables, video games, cappuccino, desserts and sandwiches.

Huka Corner, 811 W. Lincoln Highway, Suite B, will open on the fringe of the NIU campus in the University City plaza.

“I am hoping that we can open up next week because we’re almost done,” owner Bill Harb said. It all depends on the city and completion of their inspections. Remodeling work continued in the building on Wednesday.

NIU makes DeKalb the ideal location for our store, Harb said.

“It has become very popular here in the U.S., especially in Illinois. I have seen a lot of new cafes around the universities . . . so we thought we’d give it a shot here in DeKalb.”

Huka Corner will specialize in a type of tobacco called shisha or simply 'huka tobacco', which is made to be smoked through a water pipe called a “hookah.” They will have the water pipes for sale, Harb said.

It's interesting to note that the tobacco is not ignited by a flame or lighter, but rather a hot charcoal is used.

When a hookah is smoked, the hot charcoal essentially boils the molasses and creates a steam vapor. This thick cloud of steam/smoke instantly dissipates when the smoker exhales.

Although water pipes are usually related to drugs, the DeKalb police do not assume they are for illegal purposes.

“Water pipes - they can sell as long as there is no intent to be used for cannabis or any type of drug,” said Lt. Dan Gerace. “They have to sell them with legitimate intent.”

The shop has an upper and lower level. The lower level will contain a pool table, video games and a small reading area, Harb said. There will be an espresso machine on the upper level.

Hours have not been set, but Harb speculated the store would open at 11 a.m. and close around midnight, depending on business.

The term “hookah” describes not only the water pipe, but also a type of light tobacco, which comes in many flavors, made to be smoked through the hookah.

“It’s an old tradition. It’s been created for years in the Middle East, especially in Egypt,” Harb said. The store will sell the tobacco and also sell packaged cigarettes and refreshments.

“In the future, we’re going to be serving light food of different tastes, Mexican tastes and Middle Eastern tastes,” Harb said.

Huka Corner’s nearest competitor, Smoker’s World, had no comment.