Hookah bar owner Adam Bliss had long feared the state’s smoking ban would effectively shut down his Chapel Hill business and take his $70,000 investment with it. But today, Bliss says his failure to pay his property taxes led his landlord to padlock the doors on Hookah Bliss.

The move puts an end to the 42-year-old’s family business and to his months-long public battle against Orange County over its enforcement of the state’s smoking ban.

“It’s over. There’s not much else I can do,” said Bliss, who told CJ he owes $4,000 in property taxes that were due in December 2009. He also has not paid $2,100 in rent that was due in early April. “I just couldn’t make enough money to pay the bills.”

Bliss doesn’t blame his landlord. “If I were in her position, I’d probably do the same thing,” Bliss said. “Funny thing is, I was getting ready to send her last month’s check with the late fee and this month’s check and say, ‘Sorry, it’s been a little hectic.’”

Bliss was not at Hookah Bliss when the action took place shortly before noon today. He says he learned what was happening when his security company notified him someone was inside his business.

He said he’d changed his passwords and had forgotten to tell his landlord but that she had keys. Once he realized who was inside, Bliss called and talked with her but says she told him she wasn’t interested in working something out.

“This is purely financial on the landlady’s part,” he said. “Unfortunately, she’s got pretty valid points — a tenant who can’t pay the taxes and who pays things late.”

Bliss isn’t sure what the demise of his business means for the $6,400 fine Orange County has assessed for failure to comply with the smoking ban from March 22 through April 20. He is scheduled to appeal the fine Tuesday in a hearing before the Orange County Health Department. Bliss said he doesn’t have the money to pay the fine but still plans to show up at the hearing.

“I think I’m just going to walk in there and go, the business is gone, it’s no longer an issue,” he said. “Do you really want to do this?”

The rest of Bliss’ future is just as murky. Next week he’ll move everything out of Hookah Bliss and then look for a job. His six part-time employees will have to do the same.

Asked to assess the past year, Bliss said two things are very clear to him. First, he’s probably not the best person to run a business. He says he’s a great idea person but should leave the execution to others. Second, he learned a lot about government. “I guess certain towns are just not friendly toward small businesses.”

Donna Martinez is a contributor to Carolina Journal.