LIFE AFTER DARK: THIS ISN’T YOUR MOM AND DAD’S DOWNEY

DOWNEY (Via Downey Patriot)—Abraham Mourad never thought his small business would be among the first to kick off a new nightlife in Downey, but the 44-year-old real estate broker and co-owner of Mosaik Hookah Lounge is excited about the transformation taking place along Downey Avenue.

“We’ve always liked Downey. It’s a very open-minded city,” Mourad said. “That’s why we opened in Downey. The city is going in the right direction and there seems to be more pro-business people focused on building up the city.”

Since its grand opening last month, Mosaik Hookah Lounge, located at 11029 Downey Ave., has become one of the few late night destinations still open after 10 p.m. downtown.

“After 9, 10 p.m. it’s dead,” Mourad said. “We stay open late until around 2 a.m. and nothing’s open at that time. It’s incredible. How has an area like this been so dead for so long?”

According to Mourad, the hookah lounge, which prohibits alcohol and anyone under the age of 18, is starting to draw a diverse crowd of young adults into the area. He said some customers have come as far as Anaheim and Westwood, only demonstrating the benefits of Downey’s central location.

Although Mosaik Hookah Lounge was the first hookah establishment downtown, it’s no longer the only one.

On July 1, Hookah Time Café opened at at 8323 Firestone Blvd., offering customers a club-like experience with large flat-screen TVs and live music.

Anthony Madrid and Omar Monzon, who also own and operate Custom Cutz barbershop in South Gate, searched in the area for nearly two years before acquiring the space on Firestone Boulevard.

“We opened a week and a half after we signed the lease,” said Madrid, 22. “The first night we were sold out. There were people waiting an hour in line.”

The café sells finger foods, offers free Wi-Fi and plans to feature live DJs and entertainment in the future with various themes each night such as reggae, Latin, hip hop, and Middle Eastern music.

But it’s not just hookah lounges.

On Wednesday, the Downey Planning Commission granted a beer and wine, eating place license to ICON’s Cafe, located on 8239 2nd St. According to the city staff report, owner David Devis has plans to revamp the small eatery as a restaurant and nightclub.

David Llamas, owner of Mambo Grill, located at 11018 Downey Ave., has added a 45-seat sports bar, which opened Saturday night.

While city officials maintain that these new businesses were not sought out, acknowledged the establishments as a vital part of the downtown specific plan, which calls for more restaurants and entertainment venues.

“The city is concerned with creating a destination…that’s the scope and vision of what the downtown is supposed to be,” city planner William Davis. “We’re not seeking to make Downey the place for night life, but the vision does include walkable space, restaurants, more places to sit down.”

“The city is trying to make a statement,” said, Monzon, 29, of Hookah Time Café. “‘We’re not dead.’”