Queen's Hookah replaces El Basha
Remember El Basha, the cute but ill-fated hookah bar on the 200 block of East Baltimore Street?
It's morphed into Queen's Hookah, according to Midnight Sun tipster kateebee.
Queen's Hookah has new owners, kateebee confirmed, and now looks smokin' hot. Pun!* Also, the window dressings are nicer and the interior looks improved.
The new incarnation is BYOB until tomorrow (sorry for the late notice, drinkers), and is "18 to party, 21 to drink." ...
Regardless of the changes, Queen's Hookah is still at an awful location, where any business -- especially one that's relying on foot traffic -- would have a tough time. I hate to be all doom-and-gloom, but that's probably what caused the rollover in the first place.
"This is the sketchiest block on the planet, though, so I really don't think it will be able to compete with the places down in Fed. Hill," kateebee wrote in her e-mail. "Just my two cents."
*kateebee really wanted me to use the phrase "smokin' hot" in there somewhere. Wish granted.
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
I was nearly mugged on that block at about 10:00 am several years ago. That block IS a super sketchy location.
Posted by: EK | June 30, 2010 9:10 AM
Well, regardless of their location I wish them best of luck.
Do you know what kind of tobacco they serve and in what hookahs?
Posted by: Buy Hookah | June 30, 2010 9:48 AM
Sweet- I have a hookah bar! And I didn't even know it.
Posted by: queen_colleen | June 30, 2010 10:52 AM
@Queen_Colleen -- Snoop also name checks you in that Katy Perry song:
bikinis zucchinis martinis no wienies ... just the king and the queenie
Posted by: Sam Sessa | June 30, 2010 12:46 PM
Someone was killed there last night. I hate to be all doom-and-gloom, but I guess you were right, Sam.
Posted by: Dead | July 2, 2010 7:18 AM
It only took 2 days from this posting for someone to get killed here. Awesome.
Posted by: Wow | July 2, 2010 8:09 AM
Update from The Block - Handwritten sign posted on the door since Monday saying that they are "Under in house repair" and they will re-open soon.
Posted by: kateebee | July 23, 2010 9:26 AM