HomeMy WebLinkAboutKazi Hookah Lounge Request CITY OF RENTOR
MAY 23 2010
May 18, 2018, 2018IVED ( t.W\
RECE
CITY CLERK'S fFH�.;'f:
Dear City of Renton Administrative Services Administrator and City Hearing Examiner,
Subject: Appealing for renewing business license for Kazi's Hookah Lounge LLC
(BL.041328).
This is a letter of request to take a reconsideration of your decision for Kazi's hookah
lounge. Kazi's has been opened in Renton City since June 2015.
Recently Renton City has made some changes to business licensing service. For
example, online application for renewal. When I found the email, at first I wasn't sure of
it then,Mrs. Linda Weldon personally emailed me about the renewal application. I tried
many times to obtain my renewal business license online but I couldn't. After that, I
decided to go in person to obtain the renewal license. Both I and Mrs. Weldon wouldn't
figure it out. Mrs. Weldon told me"it's under review this is why the system is not
allowing it to process." Since then I waited few weeks to get an answer back from
Mrs.Weldon regarding "Under review process". While I was waiting, I tried to renewal
my business license one more time, and it worked. Finally I figure it out how to apply
online. I applied for the renewal license and paid of the amount dues as well so I applied
and summited business license renweal for Kazi's Hookah Lounge. Then, one week later,
on April 19, I heard back from Mrs. Weldon.
On the email, it discussed about whether or not my business should be given a renewal
license based on the violationed noted from Health department. Based on the health
department notes, during 2017 to 2018 as violation has been noted, "Open to public and
employee zone"
Open to Public "Membership Private Club"—Must keep record of membership list.
I have been collecting memberships since the first day Kazi's Hookah Lounge opened. It
was storing on my register system. The system has information about a member name,
phone number, and date as the membership was created. I have been collecting the
membership fees as well. Then later a new law passed to have application forum.
Sometimes I would run out of the paper application forum. Although, I ran out of paper
application forum, we still had the system where it storage all membership list. The forum
online also has name, phone number, date signed up to end date. It doesn't have any other
special instruction. I can find easily someone with their name or phone number. This was
demonstrated to Fel Pajimula from Health department. He was satisfied with this but still
prefers paper application process as well. On October 30th 2017, Mr. Pajimula wanted to
know many current memberships is active and he would like to see if I can find a system
that would demonstrated that. I told him I would send this file to him to his email on a
excel file which can demonstrate on excel. I have sent the files on 10/31/2017. Later on,
04/05/2018 when Mr. Pajimula visited us, I have started a service system for membership
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which can make very easy for Mr. Pajimula to see how many members. A member would
punch in the number and his or her information will come up and it will show if the
membership is active or not. If it is not we can ask them to renew their membership. As
you can see, we are making progress and following the instruction from health
department and trying to come up with better a solution that will work for both of us. So I
am not sure why I am in violation when I am actually trying as much as I can to improve
and make a system that will work. I am also carrying paper application at all time now as
requested by Mr. Pajimula.
No Employee Zone
The next subject was mention "Having employees". Belly dancer or DJ teddy both carried
a membership. I did not hire any of them to do any performance. Dj Teddy likes to
practice on his own and he wants to build his clients. He only has done this once or twice
for fun. Belly dancers were part of private event celebration.
Victor Cassarez, Karamvi Parhar and Sangram Parhar(refer as "Sunny") are all on
business license for Renton and Kent Hookah Lounge. They all have been on the
Business License for almost 1 year now as being a partner.
June 2015, I was given my license for hookah lounge without a question or obligation.
Then I was told 10 months later that City made to mistake to hand me the license since
Mayor declare war on 11 hookah lounges; even thought, I was not part of any violation
and neither my business name was listed on the 11 names of the hookah lounge. I was
operating without any violation, no calls for 911 still I was target because the city of
Renton will follow the Mayor decision on Hookah Lounge. I almost lost my business. I
was going to close my door. I was making no money in both restaurant and Hookah
lounge. I was fighting to survived everyday by myself. And then when I came to renew
my business license I had sign some agreement to obey the laws of the Mayor if it goes
through. Then later, Mayor made a settlement with all 11 hookah lounges to let hookah
lounges remain open due to our"Racial Equity Rights". Hookah is our culture and this is
who we are. Hookah came from many countries such as Indian, Bangladesh, Persia,
Egypt, Russia, Bosnia, Africa, Jamaica, and Middle Eastern etc. I feel like every time the
city has problem with 1 hookah lounge and targets all of them. Mrs. Weldon told me
"since the other hookah lounge Nomads Hookah Lounge caused too much problem we
are not sure if we can allow your hookah lounge to operate here in Renton". Nomads
Hookah Lounge was close officially in September 2017. I shoudln't be targeted because
of other business owners doesn't know how to run their business. Also not all the bars,
club, and gas station gets close down because of that one bar had problem. You can't
blame all the group of people just because of a person or single establishment keep
making mistake. We cannot target all people.
Hookah lounge is not to blame for"people who are looking for trouble or wants to make
trouble". We are simply trying to bring our culture back. This is a place where they can
stay connected to their culture. Just imagine for a second, so many younger, mid age and
older people are becoming part of the social enviorment instead of selling drugs on street.
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Compare to any other hookah lounge, we are the most strict hookah lounge. When we see
any suspicious person driving by or observing our business, we inform to Sandra Havlik
Renton City Criminal prevention and other police department to keep a good eye. That
way,before something happen we can be aware of it. We are ahead of everything about
making sure the safety of our clients. Our clients understand our rules and kindly respect
us. They also follow all the rules and regulation of the lounge. For example, members
doesn not stay outside in the parking lot and they keep outside clean environment. We use
this establishment for social gathering. We also bring our culure and share it with the
world.
Renton city close down the other hookah lounge name "Nomads" due to many violence,
complains, shooting and fights. If I was the business owner of that lounge I would have
close down long time ago because If I cannot control my own business and why should I
have a business? The decision was right. However, closing down my business due to the
fact of the other hookah lounge is close? It is not right and very unfair. If I have any
violation, these violation can be fix or corrected with help from city and health
department. But ofcause working everyday becomes harder for a business owner to
accomplish these goals.
Hookah is all over the world. It has been around for many generations. Hookah can be
seen almost every country now. In those countries you can have hookah publicly inside a
restaurants while kids are around, malls, outdoors,bars, clubs, lounges, house parties etc.
In California, Dallas, New York,Florina, and other States I have visited, I always look for
hookah lounges and visit their establishment. I was able to smoke publicly and employees
were on sites as well serving hookah, taking orders, and performing other duties while
they have the same State Law for"Smoking is prohibited in workplace and 20 feet away".
I would like to inform you this is my 2nd mail for appealing your decision. I have send out
a mail on the 05/01/18 overnight shipping UPS to get to Renton City Clerk Office on
address 1055 South Grady Way, Renton WA, 98057. The mail was not being delivered
on timing manner since there was no suite number given to me. Further decision, I had
with the UPS also said, "They had to wait until May 10th to receive a suite number from
Renton Clerk office otherwise the mail would have been deliver on May 2na "
I understand health department want us to improve our system more effectively. We
could do that by arranging a meeting where we can seat and make some suggestion to
improve our system moving forward. As far as now I am keeping both paper application
and membership counting system. As well, the partners are on license and it has been
almost a year now.
I am kindly asking to have any future letter or mails to be send electrically on my email
Kazishadika@gmail.com and a hard copy to be send on my mailing address 12233 SE
259th PL, Kent, WA 98030.
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Sincerity,
artt
Shadika kazi
Owner of Kazi's Hookah Lounge LLC
Kazishadika@gmail.com
206-518-8320
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