It happened! But it's only temporary... Turns out I needed two more inspections. They always wait till the last minute to tell you these things and they have no appreciation for what a new business owner may be going through to get open. They could not care less if I have to stay closed another weekend because they haven't inspected a new light fixture. So, after a little whining, a lot of frustration, and a miracle appearance by my electrician just under the wire at the 11th hour, they issued me a 5-day temporary "certificate of occupancy".

Hunab Hookah opened for business on Thursday, February 1st, 2007.

We had a good first weekend - probably better than I should have expected (if I had any expectations). But I continue to look forward to the time when I actually hit my projected sales.

We had a noise complaint on Sunday night around 11:30 - the cops showed up. We had been jamming all night up to that point and were less than half as loud as we've been in the past. My theory is that it is due to the new exhaust fan and the hole in the wall that it uses to suck air out. It wasn't there till just before opening and I suspect that the neighbor that complained was away for the weekend and hadn't heard us with the new hole in the wall till he got home Sunday night.

I'm going to be writing a note to the neighbors - looking to take the good neighbor approach, and I'll be installing a sound barrier around the outside of the fan to block the noise. If that doesn't work I'm going to try a wall of strawbales. I know it will all work out.