No hookahs at Huckas
Since the smoking ban started, Huckas on Boston Street has had a bit of an identity crisis.
I won't bore you with the legalities, but basically, when the ban began, Huckas played it safe and stopped serving hookahs.
Co-owner Jay Sikander is meeting with health board officials in the next few weeks to try to work out an agreement.
"It's a shame," he said. "We have the name Huckas and we can't even smoke hookahs."
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Sun Photographer)






I've been The Baltimore Sun's nightlife and local entertainment reporter for a couple years, and it's surprising how much the scene has grown in that time. Most of Baltimore's bars and clubs are unpretentious places with fairly cheap drinks and plenty of character. I like dancing and think this city needs more clubs, but nothing beats having a cold, locally brewed beer with friends in a comfortably full corner bar.
Comments
That place HARDLY resembles a hookah lounge. I was in there once and got the creeps. Weird since most places in Canton give me just the opposite feeling.
Posted by: Kim Moore | February 20, 2008 10:47 AM
Any idea about the other hookah places?
Posted by: bryanintimonium | February 20, 2008 11:31 AM
I agree Kim, it is very strange and creepy there.
The place used to be "The Grille", which was a great bar. But now, I won't step foot in that place.
Posted by: Drew | February 20, 2008 11:41 AM
Bryan, I'm making a few phone calls about this today, but I'm pretty sure places like La Marsa in Fells Point, Zeeba and Three Kings will still have hookahs.
I think the law is they have to generate 80 percent of their profits from tobacco sales to get an exemption.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | February 20, 2008 11:44 AM
If its 80% of profits to have the huchkas and smoking there's no way in [tarnation] Huckas will live up to its name.
Posted by: Marc | February 21, 2008 11:59 AM
Even the signage is creepy...
Posted by: TS | February 21, 2008 12:30 PM
i'm convinced that location is cursed. I also thought that way about the location that Red Fish now occupies. Both locations have changed names numerous times over the last few years. It's a tricky location...not quite Fells and not quite Canton. I personally stick to Bartenders. The guys that run the joint are all great and the pizza there is top notch.
Posted by: chandler | February 22, 2008 10:15 AM
Chandler, I agree. Plus, their pizza is even better at midnight!
Posted by: Drew | February 22, 2008 11:16 AM
This bar is the absolute tackiest place in the whole city. It attracts the lowest forms of life and ought to be closed down. This place is absolute garbage and should be shut down. DOWN WITH HUCKA' S DOWN WITH HUCKA's! Nobody wants to see some trashy 40 something urinating outside ur house, but thanks to Hucka's they 've made that nightmare possible. THANKS HUCKA's FOR RUINING CANTON YOU [expletives]!
Posted by: john smith | May 3, 2008 3:27 PM
I take it that Huckas being deprived of their hookahs is the least of their public relations problems.
Maybe they should become a bar version of a dark ride and be called the Fun House, after all the transition from creepy to scary can't be that hard, given the above post.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 4, 2008 8:45 PM
The place is definitely bad news. The old Grille that used to be there was really nice but just never got busy. It just doesn't go with the 1/2 million dollar homes all around it.. like most of the Bars on Boston Street.. out of place in my opinion.
Posted by: JD | June 18, 2008 12:00 AM
How can a place with the bright lights of the TV's glaring at NO ONE be scary? There's not enough people in there to be scary! What's the place down the street called, the one with all 7' tall, nicely dressed African American men standing outside smoking called? It in between there and Gin Mill.
Posted by: LL | June 18, 2008 3:59 PM
Oh try Castaways on Wednesdays. It is fun and funny ... There are some colorful characters and evens some decent singers. Last night Judge Papas there to sing. Plus girls drink free beer every Wednesday! Even if it is Miller Light, free is free and thats ok by me :-)
Posted by: TotalVicky | June 19, 2008 12:53 PM
I think those non-smoking laws are ludicrous... Or at least when enforcing them at a
Hooka Bar... People don't go to these places unknowing that the place is going to be smokey!
Hello!!
Posted by: HookaLova | August 24, 2008 11:10 PM