Carmen Castro, sophomore in LAS, takes a long drag from the hookah on the table in front of her. The smoke fills her lungs first as she inhales. A minty smell fills the air as she exhales.

Castro is one of the few customers inside Caf‚ Hookah, 313 E. Green St., on Saturday night. It is still early though – a little past 10 p.m. – and general manager Tim Dare, who lives near Mattoon, said business will pick up within the next hour.

Although the bar is just now starting to gain a loyal following, Caf‚ Hookah’s opening fulfilled one of Dare’s life-long dreams. He has always wanted to own or operate a club or a bar, he said. Now that he has opened the bar, gaining a large customer base is his next major objective.

For the time being, Caf‚ Hookah is still one of Champaign’s best kept “little secrets,” said Jenny Godinez, sophomore in LAS, who has been a bartender at the caf‚ for about a month. Caf‚ Hookah occupies the space under the College Corner Mall and had been vacant prior to the caf‚’s opening earlier this year.

“A lot of people don’t know we’re here,” Dare said.

But Dare is trying to change that. Local disc jockeys are scheduled to appear Thursday through Saturday nights and advertising is scheduled to increase. The specials, which he said are “the best around,” are expected to drive up business too.

“It’s a different environment from your typical club or bar scene,” Dare said.

One of the most obvious differences is the admission age. Most bars require customers to show proof that they are at least 19 years old. At Caf‚ Hookah, patrons only need to be 18. This makes the hookah bar accessible to freshmen and other students who are not old enough to go to other bars on campus.

“The 18-year-olds who come here now will see that we are really a place where they can come,” Dare said. “And hopefully, they will keep coming here as they get older.”

Some patrons are taking advantage of the hookah bar because it offers a different environment than many other bars on campus.

Tony Garcia, sophomore in LAS, said he liked the social aspects of the hookah bar. He said that people are rarely rowdy at Caf‚ Hookah. Smoking a hookah is a more social activity than drinking, Garcia said.

“It’s one hookah that you pass and share,” Garcia said.

Garcia, who first taught Castro how to smoke hookahs, said he feels that smoking hookahs is classier than smoking cigarettes too. He said the smoke doesn’t make him cough and it doesn’t smell bad. Instead, the smoke goes down easy and tastes good.

Another difference between Caf‚ Hookah and the rest of the campus bars is the environment, Castro said.

The couches that line the walls are covered in a soft, burgundy material. There are enough tables and chairs for all of the customers inside to sit comfortably. A sprawling outside area allows patrons to sit outside too.

The decorations adorning the bar are unique as well. T-shirts with the words “Caf‚ Hookah” and baby T-shirts are hanging on one wall. When entering different rooms, patrons push their way through curtains of hanging beads.

Despite the blaring music, the hookah bar remains true to its Middle Eastern roots. The hookah originated from the Middle East approximately 500 years ago. Caf‚ Hookah serves traditional Middle Eastern food, but compliments the authentic cuisine with American favorites including soups, pizza and hot wings.

Dare feels that the unique atmosphere surrounding the bar will draw customers. The staff is fun and friendly, he said. Most of the bartenders and waitresses like smoking hookahs and many stop by on their days off, Godinez said.

“It’s really laid back,” she said. “It’s just a fun time.”

And unlike the other bars in Champaign, there are few hookah bars.

Nargile, located in downtown Champaign, is the only other hookah bar in the area.

“There are probably 50 bars here locally and how many hookah bars? Two,” Dare said.