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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Michael Pasquini opened The Crimson Lion Hookah Lounge Cafe as an alternative to loud bars and so college students under 21 can hang out late. It has been in business in Wilkes-Barre for over five years. In January 2010, the Wilkes-Barre Zoning Board approved Pasquini&#8217;s permit to open the lounge and cafe at 35-37 E. South St. near McCarthy Flower Shop and the South Street Bridge.</p><p>Shortly after opening, according to Times Leader archives, the lounge brought music on board.</p><p>Nowadays, folks can smoke hookah &#8212; a device used to smoke tobacco; smoke is cooled and filtered by passing through water &#8212; get a coffee or latte, go to a trivia night or, as the Facebook page suggests, come on Monday night&#8217;s to play retro video games such as N64 or SNES.</p><p>We recently caught up with Pasquini.</p><p><strong>Where did you go to college?</strong> King&#8217;s College</p><p><strong>What was your major?</strong> Mass Communication; minors in Philosophy and Theology</p><p><strong>What was your first job out of college?</strong> Account management at Solid Cactus for one month. Then at CEO for web and graphics for two years.</p><p><strong>What has been the best advice you received in business?</strong> I had no background in business. It has almost all been learning by doing.</p><p><strong>If your business had a limitless budget, what would be three things you would do differently?</strong></p><p>&#8226; More space</p><p>&#8226; More money for innovation (I have a project/ hookah-related invention I&#8217;m working on, but budget makes it slow going)</p><p>&#8226; Take a long vacation.</p><p><strong>What are our area&#8217;s biggest strengths and weaknesses?</strong> College students are a strength for the economy, not being able to keep them after graduation is a weakness.</p><p><strong>Where did you grow up?</strong> Wilkes-Barre</p><p><strong>Tell us about your family.</strong> I have three older brothers. They and my parents helped me out a lot with support in getting the business going.</p><p><strong>What&#8217;s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?</strong> After getting ready, coffee.</p><p><strong>What&#8217;s the last thing you do at night before you fall asleep?</strong> Read usually.</p><p><strong>Where&#8217;s your favorite place to go on vacation?</strong> Any beach.</p><p><strong>What&#8217;s your biggest fear?</strong> Spiders, but I suppose after that it&#8217;s the looming possibility of a tobacco law being passed that could hamper my business and other hookah places. Basically any sort of red tape-related situation that is completely out of my hands.</p><p><strong>What&#8217;s your favorite local restaurant and/or meal?</strong> Pete&#8217;s Place and Frank&#8217;s Pizza are my go-tos. They are right by my business and are both great.</p><p><strong>What do you want to do when you retire?</strong> That&#8217;s definitely a long way away, but if I had to imagine I would say travel and relax. Although, I do enjoy working and constantly improving my business, so maybe I wouldn&#8217;t ever really retire.</p><p><strong>Do you want to retire?</strong> Not any time soon.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Michael Pasquini, owner of The Crimson Lion Hookah Lounge and Cafe, reads a book during some down time at the business. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_crimson_photo1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Michael Pasquini, owner of The Crimson Lion Hookah Lounge and Cafe, reads a book during some down time at the business. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photos </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Crimson_photo2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Crimson Lion Hookah Lounge and Cafe owner Michael Pasquini works to get the business opened back in 2009. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Crimson_photo2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Crimson Lion Hookah Lounge and Cafe owner Michael Pasquini works to get the business opened back in 2009. </caption1><photoCredit1>Submitted photos </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Melanie Mizenko</p><p>mmizenko@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>GETTING TO KNOW MICHAEL</strong></p><p><strong>Name:</strong> Michael Pasquini</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 31</p><p><strong>Title:</strong> Owner</p><p><strong>Business:</strong> The Crimson Lion Hookah Lounge and Cafe</p><p><strong>Location:</strong> 37 E. South St., Wilkes-Barre</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Behind the Business: Michael Pasquini brings a youth vibe to downtown Wilkes-Barre