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Kava Bar (Nakamal)

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kl.EthnoPharm

Kava Curious
Soooo I have been thinking about venturing the business world and opening up a nakamal (kava bar) in Chicago. Anybody have any info/opinions? It's currently in the pre-planning stage, but it would be great to hear from you!
 
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kl.Gregor

Kava Curious
I've been researching myself, to get a place opened here in LA - my 'hood is a bohemian beach community that I think would be very receptive to the BULA. First thing for me has been trying to find Nakamals in Cali that have made it happen. Came across this place in San Diego - http://mysticwaterkavabar.com/kava-bar-lounge/ - that has a great vibe to it (paired with a yoga studio). Planning to head down there in the next month and chat up the owners and hopefully learn a thing or two about the efforts. Main thing for me is understanding the laws/ordinances involved - which for Cali, I expect to be very liberal - considering there are more dispensaries in my hood than coffee shops.



Would think you might be able to drop a line to the peeps at Nakava in Boca Raton, since they were apparently the first in the US to open up. Seem like cool cats.



best of luck, I'll letcha know if I learn anything interesting in my search.



PAX~
 
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kl.Project460

Kava Enthusiast
Right now I dont think is a good time. The FDA is cracking down on banning kava, probably due to people replacing meds and alcohol with it. Ive herd from a couple sources they are working on a act right now to do that. Only thing is if they ban kava, they have to ban all other supplements and vitamins made after 1994 or something. I could be mistaken.
 
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kl.Gregor

Kava Curious
esh...hope if that ever comes to pass (for shame, for shame) - they make an exception for Hawai'i, due to the cultural significance. If that happens, perhaps I can finally persuade my wife to move over!!!
 
kavalover

kavalover

Outsider
The better action here would be not to ban kava but to regulate it. We only ran into problems when big companies were importing the entire plant along with god only knows what. That's not regulation. If domestic kava farms were to be monitored to make sure they were harvesting and preparing their kava correctly, and not selling it to irresponsible companies, there would be no more problems (minus idiosyncrasies among the population who will have side effects). It just seems like common sense, that taking something that grows from our earth, and then banning people from even looking at it, is wrong. I know my doctor isn't too happy that I'm not taking his pills anymore, but I'm living happier with kava. I'm truly going to be sad and angry if it becomes banned. Especially since the FDA will notify the people that kava was banned using the same ole evidence of liver toxicity we saw back in 2000. Once that report hits the fox news health report, it's done for a while.



On topic, though, if any of you are serious about opening up a kava bar, best of luck to you! I think that's really the best way to spread the word about kava right now
 
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kl.Gregor

Kava Curious
Yeah, very serious indeed. Decided to give it a market test on Thursday night on a friend's rooftop by the beach. It was the same night as the Venice Art Crawl, so put out the call to some open minded people and served them up their first cups. They came in waves, so had to give the elevator talk several times...but great response. Even when it meant they were going to bypass the free wine and beer at the galleries, the majority of them gave it a shot.



Was brewing Hiwa from Hawaiian Kava Center. Checked in with them later in the eve to see how it went down for them and all were smiling (prob good call on the Hiwa for that). Think the key here - back to your original post EthnoPharm - is that you really need to get the buzz (pardon the pun) going in the right circles with open-minded people to get any traction. Got more requests to do another sesh in a couple weeks...letcha know how it goes.



I will admit, after Project460's post earlier, that I've wondered (a lot) whether I should be spreading the news on something that has been such a blessing for me. If it were to be banned, kavalover, I would be extremely extremely saddened. I just know there are so many people in this town that need some help, be it from meds - or drink...that I feel compelled to atleast spread to them, whether or not my nakamal-quest succeeds.
 
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kl.Project460

Kava Enthusiast
Thats the thing, so many people can benefit from kava. It is a very wonderful healing root that can help everyone in my opinion. But thats where the problem lies..

And yes regulating (and maybe even taxing it?? I wouldent mind paying an extra 2 or 3 bucks to make sure it stays safe..) would be a problem solver, and also be helping countries in this debt crisis as well.

Kava has aided me in sleeping (dont really need it that much) and just overall promotes a relaxation on the body and mind for me in a way that nothing else can. It has also significantly increased my memory, which ive read it does do. I try and spread the word around to my friends as much as I can, saying kava will relax you and not mess you up, but sadly they lose interest pretty fast. I have had a couple friends over for a kava session and they enjoy themselves.

On topic tho, I do hope if you open a kava bar in the near future, it goes well and successfully. I think here in a couple years or so, kava will have a way greater audience(for better or for worse). Just from the beginning of this year this forum has seen alot more people. I started drinking kava around september of last year, and have enjoyed it ever since.



When life gives you hell, grab a shell :D
 
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kl.rcoz

Kava Enthusiast
When I drink kava in the winter, I have to wear more clothing than usual. Kava seems to bring my body temp down a bit. That might hurt winter sales.
 
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starsofclay

Kava Enthusiast
stumbled across this site.. they sell kava and kava chocolate bars in hawaii. apparently they want to hear from people that are interested in opening a kava bar.
 
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kl.EthnoPharm

Kava Curious
God that pisses me off, being an aspiring ethnopharmacologist, the FDA and I disagree on many things. However, this "banning" is just ridiculous. rcoz - I totally get that cooler feeling as well, maybe from the vasoconstriction? starsofclay - whats that site?
 
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starsofclay

Kava Enthusiast
that's really wierd, i could have sworn i put a link to the site... i'll have to see if i can find it again but i dunno if i can...
 
kavalover

kavalover

Outsider
This website is great, the FDA does have plans to set into action that will change the supplement business heavily. Click on the "take action" tabs to say your part.



http://www.anh-usa.org/vitaminwar/



If any of this goes into play kava will be in a very dark place, especially since its ongoing availability is/will cut into prescription medications/alcohols profit and is considered a dietary supplement.
 
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kl.EthnoPharm

Kava Curious
SAdamBernstein-For sure! But more importantly, where about near Chicago? As a kava gathering needs to be put into action lol.
 
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kl.r3mote

Kava Curious
I think having one in a University town or near a campus is the only way you're going to get any business. Maybe even a few streets away from a head shop would be a smart location, since the more open minded people are the ones who are going to nakamals anyway.

Pub tending has always interested me and I have my experiences in many aspects of the business. I've been considering opening one in South Florida or Huntington Beach-area California.
 
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