Co-owners, Mehdi Marrakchi and Karim Elamrani own and operate  MOB Hookah, a leading hookah brand with a Flagship Store located on Melrose Ave in Los Angeles, one of the most popular and trendy areas in L.A. The shop was designed to fit the needs of the brand, featuring customized pieces from the talented artist @dalsinky as well as other artist collaborations. 

There’s a design for every personality type such as Diamond: an elegant German-designed hookah; Onyx Venus: made out of beautiful bone material for an extra elegant look; Onyx Orion with a glow in the dark base and tray, when put in a dark room The glowing particles in it makes it look like a dominating galaxy, and the futuristic Halo: designed to teleport you to another dimension. MOB Hookah’s site features over a hundred different hookahs and accessories. Their hookahs are beautifully crafted to be the center of attention in any room. They are all unique in style and design with raving reviews about the quality and craftsmanship. All are available for shipping in North America. 

A Dream Forced into Reality

Mehdi explains that the brand started back in 2014 in his garage with an unusual hookah design and an investment of $15,000. “ we started promoting the brand organically on Instagram and it just took off from there,” Mehdi shares. “ We are now projected to sell over $10 million this year and we are just getting started!” MOB Hookah has become one of the most popular hookah brands in the world, with 122k Instagram followers, 13k Facebook page Likes, and 40k subscribers on YouTube. 

Mehdii came to the US as an immigrant at just nineteen years old to pursue education and become an engineer. His parents couldn’t afford to pay his tuition, so he had to hunt for a job within his first week here just to sustain himself. She started as a dishwasher for a mere $6 an hour at a pizzeria in downtown San Diego. “It wasn’t the greatest job, but I liked the feeling of responsibility,” Medi shares. “I knew things would eventually get better.” Within a few months, Mehdi was able to get a job with better pay, running a coffee cart. “It was actually perfect for me,” he explains. “I love coffee and socializing!” 

After a few years, Mehdi began studying for his degree. As expenses got higher, he realized he needed more income and less work to maintain his status as an honor student. He started a limo business which at the time was a great solution given his schedule and income. After graduation, He was recruited to join the Navy Civilian Force. That’s when his friend and now business partner, Karim Elamrani, came to him with a design; it was an AK-47 shaped Hookah! That was the moment MOB Hookah was born.

The brand is now planning to take its hookah designs beyond North America “In the next few years, we plan to expand the business to South American and European markets.” Mehdi states. “ We have a lot of vendors who are ready to invest in a franchise, so that’s something we are also considering.” The brand’s first priority is to establish more shops in L.A. and other major cities such as Miami and Dubai. 

The Future of the Industry

Mehdi Marrakchi and Karim Elamrani believe that this is just the beginning for the industry. “The only thing preventing us from gaining more popularity are the restrictions surrounding hookahs and tobacco, but we are able to work with that,” Mehdi says.

“My advice for other entrepreneurs is to take charge and stay focused.” When Mehdi first started MOB Hookah there were a lot of unknowns. “Don’t let this detour you,” Mehdi advises. “ Many startups begin with limited resources and end up thriving.” Be realistic about how much you can do for your business. He explains that in some cases, it might be better to find outside investment for a stake in their company. Mehdi ends by saying, “You never know when you’ll see the returns on an investment, but when you do, it makes it all worthwhile.”