Oskaloosa Exploring Hookah Lounge

Tessa and Nathan Veldhuizen recently opened ‘White Cloud Hookah Lounge’ along High Avenue West in Oskaloosa.

Oskaloosa, Iowa, – For many, the word hookah is a bit foreign, but the social environment has been around for centuries.

Hookah lounges are often found in college towns, but one finds their origin in the Middle Eastern or south South Asian cultures.

In Oskaloosa, the White Cloud Hookah Lounge is owned and operated by Nathan and Tessa Velhuizen, who opened the establishment on October 1st.

Shisha is the tobacco that can also combine many different flavors, including fruit flavors and mint. The hookah is shared with friends in a social setting. “It’s a great past-time if you are under the age of 21 and older than 18”, says Tessa.

The lounge does carry its tobacco license, but as many traditional hookah lounges, they don’t serve alcohol, but you can bring your own beer or wine into the lounge; just no hard liquor. “We do ID everyone that comes through the door”, says Tessa.

Tessa explained that when she and her husband Nathan met, they lived near a hookah lounge, “and it was a great place to go and hang out; especially in the cold months when you want to get out of the house.”

Tessa explained that many individuals in their age group already own hookahs, and the couple often found themselves hosting friends at their home and sharing the hookah there.

“We found ourselves serving to a lot of our friends; we might as well get paid for doing it”, says Nathan.

When it comes to trying something new, it can be uncomfortable, but Tessa says she believes they have created a comfortable atmosphere for their customers.

Besides the hookah, the lounge offers snacks, and various drinks like soda and tea, as well as coffee, and hot chocolate, among others.

You can find out more about the White Cloud Hookah Lounge by visiting them on their Facebook page HERE.