Hookah lounge opens at former Burger King in Westland

A corner shopping center in Westland has its first sign of life in years.

The opening of Glass House Hookah Lounge and Glass House Kitchen at 7900 N. Middlebelt marks a big development for the long vacant strip mall on the southeast corner of Ann Arbor Trail. Occupying the former Burger King, the two separate businesses bring economic activity to the corner for the first time in years.

"We worked like a year for it," Salim Sabbagh, one of the partners that opened the hookah lounge and kitchen, said. "Maybe it was forgotten, but it's a great corner."

What formerly held a play structure indoors now houses plenty of lounge chairs and booths, complete with décor to make the space feel like a garden.

Having a large, open space was advantageous to Sabbagh and his business partner, Fida Amir, especially for a hookah lounge.

"The style of the building is all glass," he said. "People want to smoke, they want feel like they're ... smoking in the open, not in a basement or something."

The development was first discussed by the city's planning commission more than a year ago. Plans for the center, which has remained vacant for many years, include a complete redevelopment of the strip mall to the east of the new hookah lounge.

More shops are expected to fill the plaza, including a wooden furniture business originally planned in the former Sears Hardware space, though no timeline was available for the rest of the plaza.

Those visiting Glass House Hookah Lounge can choose from a variety of different hookah mixtures made from tobacco and fruit, including popular options such as double apple, mango and other flavors.

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In the same building is the kitchen, a separate business — state law does not allow hookah lounges to have a food license — serves plenty of food options such as hummus, pizza, burgers, salads and more. Patrons can order food at the kitchen and bring it in to the hookah lounge to eat. Food can also be ordered for customers looking to take it home or delivered through services like DoorDash.

Sabbagh, who said he formerly owned Blue Moon Hookah Lounge in Dearborn Heights, said business has been solid since it opened its doors.

"It's a good start," he said. "People like the atmosphere, they like the food, they like the hookah."

The lounge is open noon to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. More information, including a menu for the restaurant and online ordering, can be found at glasshousehookahwestland.com.

Contact reporter David Veselenak at [email protected] or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.