Canton's only hookah lounge promises what is an unusual night out.

Business at Off the Hookah Lounge, 45610 Cherry Hill Rd., revolves around hookahs, devices for smoking flavored tobacco that use a water urn and a long tube which passes through the water. Some hookahs have multiple tubes so friends can share a smoke.

Ahmed Makki, 48, of Dearborn, owns Off the Hookah, where doors open daily at 5 p.m. Makki said he took over the business from a business associate in January 2009. Though Off the Hookah is the only such lounge in Canton, there are many similar places in the metro Detroit area. Makki's customers come from Dearborn, Plymouth, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, even though each of those communities has its own hookah outlets.

Off the Hookah offers live entertainment from local disc jockeys such as Deejay Fares and DJ Ehab. They are there mainly for the listening pleasure of patrons, but some customers occasionally get up and dance. You can also celebrate birthdays or other special occasions, but make sure to call ahead because the place can fill up fast. Off the Hookah's five high-definition TVs with 40-inch screens and its large projection screen also make it a haven for sports enthusiast, including those looking for a place to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Depending on what a customer orders, the price of a hookah smoke can range from $10 to $20. For example, putting the tobacco in what's called a fruit head, which adds an orange, apple or lemon flavor to the tobacco, costs an extra $5. Another option is to fill the urn with juice instead of water, which costs $3.

Employees enjoy the atmosphere so much, they often stick around after their shifts to mingle with the crowd. Customers also say the feel at home at Off the Hookah.

“This is my niche," said Mohamad Mustafa, 19, of Ypsilanti. "I feel so comfortable here. I do everything here, whether it’s studying or watching the big game. This is my second home.”

Off the Hookah provides personal hookahs for some regular visitors.

“We are like a huge hookah family when we are here,” Makki says.  

The state law in effect since last May barring smoking in most workplaces had minimal affect on Off the Hookah. The law prohibits smoking in places where food is prepared.

"We were never a food-based business, but we did have to stop selling pizzas. Other than that, it did not change how we run things," Makki said.

Other restaurants had to adjust to the law by stopping the sale of hookahs or even buying another building to separate the hookah customers from the diners. Food can be catered or brought into Off the Hookah by the customer.

Off the Hookah Lounge is open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday and on Sunday. The lounge is open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 734-895-7534.