A new smoke-ring device could soon change the dynamic of hookah culture in Gainesville.
Monkey O’s was conceived when Gene Gamble, a 27-year-old former University of South Florida student, was watching “The Mask” during the scene where Jim Carrey’s character blew smoke rings to impress a girl.
A couple months later, Gamble teamed up with Miraj Patel, a 22-year-old UF marketing graduate, to design the glass device, which is shaped like a cone cut off before the tip with a hole in the base. Monkey O’s will come in a variety of colors.
The name was inspired by how the founders recommend using the product. Gamble and Patel suggested making the “ooh ooh ah ah” sounds like a monkey through the piece.
Sam Bhattacharjee, the owner of Infinity Lounge at 12 SW Second St., said he ordered 20 Monkey O’s after Gamble and Patel presented the product.
“Given that hookah lounges in general are an upcoming trend, I think it’s going to go really well,” Bhattacharjee said.
While the product relies on smoking to produce the rings, Gamble and Patel said they don’t promote tobacco consumption.
Gamble said he’s looking forward to adding an element of entertainment to the hookah lounge experience.
“People go sometimes just to blow smoke,” he said. “Why can’t you be entertained as well?”
[A version of this story ran on page 3 on 1/30/2014 under the headline "New hookah product has students blowing O’s"]
