Redwood City adopts county tobacco ordinance, ending hookah lounge exemptions

Some commenters shared their appreciation of the decision which would decrease youth access and use, but most defended existing businesses that operate popular hookah lounges. 

To David Kassouf, the owner of the Sandwich Spot on Broadway, and operates a hookah lounge in the evenings, the new ordinance has larger implications than just restricting hookah use. 

“If that reason for visiting is removed, customer traffic will decline, sales will decrease, employee hours will be cut and jobs will be lost,” Kassouf said. 

Redwood City prohibited the sale of flavored tobacco and e-cigarettes within the city in 2021, this ordinance included an exemption for grandfathered-in hookah establishments lawfully operating with a valid retailer permit. This included The Sandwich Spot, Pasha Mediterranean and Rockn Wraps. 

The city’s decision to adopt the county’s ordinance is largely due to the ability to delegate enforcement and permit administration to county staff, alleviating the city’s own. Businesses seeking a tobacco retailer permit to operate in Redwood City would also pay less in fees than if the city enacted its own policy.  

There are currently 55 tobacco retailers in Redwood City, including convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, hookah lounges and smoke shops.

The county’s tobacco ordinance will also aid in preventing young people from purchasing and using nicotine products, by having another entity able to enforce restrictions more than the city has been able to, councilmembers said. 

There has essentially been no enforcement of the city’s ordinance that banned flavored vapes, City Attorney Veronica Ramirez said previously. Public commenters and councilmembers reference an understanding that youth and adults know that they can still find flavored vapes in Redwood City because of this. 

The largest difference in practice is the fact that the county’s ordinance does not provide any exemptions for hookah lounges, and the three operating businesses will have to cease operations once the ordinance goes into effect in early July. 

Councilmember Diane Howard said there’s no choice to be made when her priority is the “health and well-being of our community.”

“Our community needs to eliminate as much as possible exposure to nicotine and smoking products,” Howard said. “I know that’s going to have an impact on your business as well as the social and cultural practices that you do, but my first responsibility has to be public health and safety.” 

The loss of these hookah lounges in downtown Redwood City affects more than the ability to smoke tobacco hookah, some residents said during public comment. Many referenced the communal gathering that occurs at the lounges. 

“I do think it’s weird that in this age of social isolation that we would take this step against third spaces in our community,” Tony Godlewski said during public comment. “While this ordinance is well meaning, it will surely exacerbate the epidemic of loneliness by closing the hookah lounges.” 

Whether to enact the county’s ordinance or protect the three businesses that are described as building a culturally vibrant community space feels like an unfair choice, Councilmembers Chris Sturken and Marcella Padilla said. 

Adopting the county’s ordinance does not allow for any amendments by the city, and councilmembers ultimately felt outsourcing enforcement and permit processing was worth the leap.

The county’s ordinance also permits business from selling tobacco-free hookah alternatives — though existing business owners aren’t excited about this option. 

“We’re behind. … Now, we don’t have the option,” Vice Mayor Kaia Eakin said.“We do not have the time and we do not have the money.” 

The county’s ordinance will go in effect 30 days following the vote Monday, which passed 4-2-1, with Sturken and Padilla opposed, and Councilmember Isabella Chu absent.