Hookah bar lighting up downtown Kirksville

The Jinn Lounge is now open in downtown Kirksville and it's causing a bit of stir around the Heartland, but what is the big question on everyone's mind?

Will it last?

It all started as a facebook question.

What does Kirksville lack?

On March 25, Andrew Wu and Daniel Nixon brought to Kirksville what the youth were asking for, a hookah bar.

"I went around the dorm halls asking what Kirksville needed and they said a hookah bar, so we opened a hookah bar," said co-owner Andrew Wu.

The empty building at 106 South Elson has been transformed into a state of the art hookah lounge. It will feature hookah, coffee, drinks, and free wi-fi.

Co-owner Daniel Nixon said business is picking up.

"With the cash we have been getting so far, I think there is not alot to question that we will have a problem staying afloat whether or not we hire or expand could still be up for debate. We will just see what traffic we get during the week," said Nixon.

So what exactly is hookah? What separates it from smoking?

"I guess one of the essential differences is the social nature of hookah. You have a group of people sitting around a pipe and smoking together. It's relaxing and a cigarette is more of an individual type thing," Nixon said.

"We don't have marijuana here. It's illegal! We have flavored tobacco dipped in molasses and the flavor is added to it," Wu said.

However, the speculation continues.

What separates hookah from the city smoking ban?

"Actually there's a lot of misconceptions about the Kirksville smoking ban. It's not an all out smoking ban. It deals with restaurants, bars, banquet halls and a couple of other specific stores and coffee shops. It doesn't really cover what we are which is a tobacco retailer," Nixon said.

The question remains, will it last in Kirksville?

"Alot of kids can go there and it's not illegal for kids under 21. I just feel like people will go there because it gives them something to do," said a local student.

"It will probably die. There was one hookah bar. People don't usually didn't go there," said a Truman State student.

Now that their bar is open, the journey continues. It will depend on the citizens of Kirksville as to how far the journey actually takes them.

"It's a great place. If you like smoking, we got music and drinks. It's the same appeal to everyone. It is just a nice place to relax and have some fun," Nixon said.