Letter from Hossam Abudawood - Owner of Midnight Hookah

Hossam Abudawood

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Groton, CT  06340

Representative Town Meeting

Groton Town Hall

45 Fort Hill Road

Groton, CT 06340

August 15th, 2018

Dear Representative Town Meeting Members,

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hossam Abudawood, and I am the owner of Midnight Hookah at 403 Pleasant Valley Road in Groton. I am writing to ask you to veto the “BYOB Ordinance” because it will be very damaging to my business. I will probably need to close the business if the ordinance passes.

Since we opened this winter, I have worked very hard to create a safe, fun place where people can get together and have a good time. Our customers include Electric Boat employees, many Navy sailors, casino workers, waiters, bartenders, local business owners, and at least one state trooper. I have been diligent in working with the town to get all proper permits and authorizations at every step of my business.

While we had some trouble with a few people when we first opened this past winter, we hired additional security, improved our policies, and worked closely with the Groton Police to deal with those issues, and we have not had any major problems in many months. We have had an excellent relationship with the Groton Police Department and we are happy to do whatever we can to make their jobs easier. They and we have the same goal: keeping everyone safe. We even cap the maximum number of people in the lounge well below what the fire marshal authorized because we want to keep a safe environment.

Since hearing about this ordinance, I have reached out to the Groton Police to discover if there was anything else I and my staff could do. I had a good conversation with Sergeant A. Lafleur and have started doing a few small things to work together even better.

I did not come to Groton with the intention of opening a hookah lounge. I came to this country 16 years ago from Syria, and have worked hard to create a good life for my family. Before living in Groton, I lived in Bridgeport and ran a hookah lounge for a number of years. My cousin got a job with Electric Boat, and I came to visit him last year. I loved the town of Groton and decided to sell my business and move my family to this beautiful town.

Groton became our home last year, and my two children now attend Groton schools. Having sold my business, I drove Uber to make a living. One night, some gentlemen from the Navy asked me if I knew of a local hookah lounge. Then more and more people asked me about a hookah lounge. There was not one in the area, and I realized that there was a need. I worked with the town, planning department, fire district to be sure to be fully in compliance when we opened.

Midnight Hookah has been very successful. There are many people in and near Groton who wish to socialize in later hours. We primarily serve people who work later hours, as well as many people who just enjoy hookah. Prior to hearing about this ordinance, I had been intending to expand the business because it has been so popular.

I have spoken to some neighboring businesses, including the Groton Townhouse, and I have found out that many of our customers spend a great deal of money at other local businesses after they leaveMidnight Hookah. About 300 customers per week visit the Groton Townhouse after leaving my lounge.

Between the Groton Townhouse, late night gas stations, and convenience stores, thousands of dollars are spent by my customers after they leave.

If this ordinance goes into effect, it will dramatically impact my business. Approximately half of my customers after midnight bring their own bottles, and that business would be lost. Other customers might also choose to go elsewhere because they come and find the lounge empty.

This would be a great disappointment to me, where I have made my home here in Groton. It would also be sad for the hundreds of Electric Boat staff, Navy guys, and other local residents who find so much joy at Midnight Hookah. That is in addition to the lost business for other local businesses that benefit.

I hope that you will vote to veto this ordinance so my business can continue to provide a safe and enjoyable experience to so many residents and visitors to Groton.

Sincerely,

Hossam Abudawood