Waco, Texas Overturns Ban on New Cigar, Hookah Lounges

Yesterday, the Waco City Council voted unanimously in favor of changing the law to allow for new cigar lounges and hookah bars to open in the central Texas city.

Specifically, the City Council approved ORD-2023-059, overturning parts of the city’s 2015 smoking ban. Those parts included a requirement that any cigar lounge or hookah bar operating in Waco needed to be in business as of July 21, 2015, a grandfather clause. That requirement has been removed, which will allow for new cigar lounges and hookah bars. That said, those businesses will need to operate either in a standalone building or have a separate air ventilation system.

The Premium Cigar Association says that Glynn Loope, the group’s director of state advocacy, submitted letters of support in favor of the change.

“This is a step in the right direction for the City of Waco, the entire state of Texas, and hopefully other cities like Louisville, Kentucky among others will follow suit,” said Loope in a statement published by the group last week. “The association’s advocacy is not only on behalf of our existing membership, but also future members who wish to open a new cigar shop or lounge. These aspiring small business owners should be afforded the same rights and opportunities as existing establishments.”

Waco is located between Austin and Dallas. It has a population of around 140,000 and is best known as the home of Baylor University, though recently has gained fame as the home of Magnolia Market, a sprawling shopping complex from Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV’s Fixer Upper.