TROY — Hookah lounge owners in Troy will no longer be able to keep their doors open for business past midnight. On Monday, the Troy City Council passed an ordinance that prohibits hookah lounge owners from operating after 12 a.m.   Some hookah lounge owners say they’ll have no choice, but to close down because of the ordinance.   

In March a 20-year-old was arrested on four counts of felonious assault for pointing a handgun at two employees. The incident occurred at Mist Hookah and Cigar.   City Council Member Dave Henderson said that the City has had several new hookah lounges open recently, and several complaints from residents have been received about incidents occurring in the parking lots of hookah lounges.     

Henderson says Troy Police have experienced more calls regarding hookah lounges than any other bars in Troy.  Last week, additional incidents were reported to police.   He says that the Council may consider reviewing the ordinance in six months if no shootings occur during that time period.    

In 2010, Michigan hookah lounge owners faced major financial woes when the State’s smoking ban law went into effect, preventing businesses across the State from serving food in smoking establishments.  Cigar bars were exempt from that law.    Henderson says that five of the City Council’s seven members are business owners and support the business community, but will not support “violence in an establishment in Troy.”   g