Applebee's will ban smoking

Tribune Chronicle ^ | 05/11/04 | Staff, wire reports

[MissTargets]

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Applebee's restaurants in Niles and Boardman will be among those in Ohio that will go nonsmoking after a decision by Thomas and King, the nation's 11th-largest restaurant operator, the company announced Monday.

The policy at the Niles restaurant will take effect Monday and be implemented at all stores by month's end, the company said. Robert Holmes, 83, of Warren said he'd like to see other restaurants follow Applebee's lead in the no-smoking policy.

''Second-hand smoke is known to be bad for people,'' Holmes said Monday at the Eastwood Mall. ''Smoking spoils my dinner.''

Holmes, a former tobacco user, said he has eaten at Applebee's in Niles several times.

Besides Ohio, the smoking ban also will take effect at the franchise company's Applebee's and Johnny Carino's restaurants in Kentucky, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Indiana locations, the company said. Franchises owned by other operators would not be affected.

Mike Scanlon, Thomas and King's chairman and chief executive officer and vice-mayor of Lexington, was a vocal supporter of the city's indoor smoking ban that went into effect April 27. Scanlon said the timing of the company's action was coincidental.

''I can see both sides of the issue,'' Scanlon said. ''However, as a businessman, I need to listen to my customers and do what I believe is right for my business.

''While this decision will inconvenience a small percentage of our customers, I am certain that our new policy will attract many new customers who are seeking a smoke-free dining experience,'' he added.

Some of Thomas and King's nearly 80 restaurants already are smoke-free, including those in cities with municipal smoking bans such as Lexington and Tucson, Ariz. Scanlon said three restaurants the company has opened in the last year - one each in Arizona, Ohio and Kentucky - are smoke-free by choice.

Six months ago, the company banned smoking for employees. Scanlon said two of the company's nearly 6,000 workers quit over the issue.

Applebee's, based in Overland Park, Kansas, operates about one-third of its locations with the rest run as franchises.

[bannie]

California has already been hit with the cigarette-Nazi's. Now it's even the friggin' BEACHES! Their claim there: litter.

Cancha' just hear the drip drip of the water as it erodes the rock we call "Freedom"?

[nevergore]

Wow! Another believer in Junk Science.....

Show any one here on this forum a credible study that conclusively shows that second hand smoke is dangerous......

BTW, I neither support or disavow Applebee's for banning smoking, that's a private corporations decision.....

What I do dismiss is self appointed safety Nazi's that believe they have a obligation and right to tell me what I'm allowed to do.

I smoke cigars, never cigarettes, but I'm a polite smoker and would never light up in an enclosed area other than my home or local cigar bar.

NeverGore :^)

[TSgt]

This is great news!

It is good to hear that private businesses are making the decision to ban smoking and not being forced to do so by the government.

That is what you FR-smoking types wanted isn't it?

Every time I read a smoking thread it contains pissing and moaning from FR-smokers about how the government should not interfere with private business. Well here you go! A private business made the decision to ban smoking…and guess what? You all are all still pissing and moaning!

Your habit stinks and I should not be forced to smell like Phillip Morris when I leave a restaurant. Now I can tell you what you always tell me, "If you don't like it, go somewhere else!"

Ha!

[nevergore]

Wow! Another believer in Junk Science.....

Show any one here on this forum a credible study that conclusively shows that second hand smoke is dangerous......

BTW, I neither support or disavow Applebee's for banning smoking, that's a private corporations decision.....

What I do dismiss is self appointed safety Nazi's that believe they have a obligation and right to tell me what I'm allowed to do.

I smoke cigars, never cigarettes, but I'm a polite smoker and would never light up in an enclosed area other than my home or local cigar bar.

NeverGore :^)

[LanPB01]

Applebees does have some terrible food, but I noticed some good news in this story. Johnny Carinos will also be smoke free; I do enjoy their lasagne.

[AppyPappy]

I don't smoke so try again. But it is hypocritical for me to complain about the cigarette across the restaurant while I am staring at the smoking skillet of fajitas in front of me. Smoke is smoke.

I don't have a problem with a restaurant banning smoking but I don't want the government involved.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Holmes said Monday at the Eastwood Mall. ''Smoking spoils my dinner.''

Holmes, a former tobacco user, said he has eaten at Applebee's in Niles several times

The only thing worse than a "Holier Than Thou, Non-smoker" is a "Holier Than Thou, EX-smoker"

[TSgt]

"Show any one here on this forum a credible study that conclusively shows that second hand smoke is dangerous......"

When I inhale second hand smoke I cough and have trouble breathing.

There is your conclusive study that second hand smoke is dangerous.

[Paved Paradise]

AppyPappy's comments are proof that smoking DOES, indeed, kill off brain cells!! As if it weren't bad enough for the customers, the poor servers have to endure it for hours on end.

[Paved Paradise]

Okay, wise guy - now give me a list of all the restaurants that do not allow smoking. I know of none in Ohio. None. If you happen to have a large group of smokers in a place that you happen to be patronizing, you are screwed.

[Naspino]

I think this is great. Applebee's restraunts are the WORST designed restraunts for people that want to avoid smoke but still eat their food. My wife is allergic to cig. smoke so there is another example of how second-hand smoke can harm others. At Applebee's (at least here) smokers sit in the middle of the restraunt BELOW non-smokers which surround them like a ring. Every non-smoker gets a dose.

[MortMan]

Do you think it is your "RIGHT" to blow smoke in someone's face?

Do you believe it is your right to accuse unseen, unkown people of behaving rudely, given that your stereotypical bravo-sierra accusation is much less than accurate in my experience?

That's why many of us do stay away from places who allow people to smoke.

That's fine. I've seen alot of commentary on this thread that celebrate a businessman making a decision to ban smoking in his business rather than forcing that ban on all businesses through law (although this businessman has done both).

The holier-than-thou act wears thin, and fast. Just as thin as the I'll-smoke-wherever-and-whenever-I-darn-well-please act does.

[G.Mason]

"You are comparing owning a gun to smoking? ROFLOL!"

sigh ...

[w1andsodidwe]

Show any one here on this forum a credible study that conclusively shows that second hand smoke is dangerous......

KI once read an article that explained that second hand smoke was more dangerous to nonsmokers than smokers. My reaction was "Well I guess I better take up smoking then, just to be safer".

They think we are all idiots.

[Paved Paradise]

Don't even bother trying to use logic on these black lung fools. Trust me, it won't work. They are so afraid of losing their liberties, they forget that smoking is harmful to everyone that comes in it's path - smokers and non-smokers alike. Even my dogs don't want to be around smokers.

[Paved Paradise]

These people fail to see that a body's natural repulsion at smoke is as normal as an individual closing his eyes when a foreign object approaches. Our bodies are smart - so why can't these people use their brains to accept reality.

[Rebelbase]

"At least they're doing it of their own free will. The business consequences (good or bad) will be of their own making."

A local Applebee's used to play classic rock background music at night. They were full in the bar which would become rowdy at times and kept food customers away.

They switched to country top 40 format and brought back the food customers but lost a majority of their bar customers.

It will be interesting to find out how they fare with the smoking ban.

[Ditter]

Obviously cigarette smoke doesn't affect the taste buds of smokers or you wouldn't see so many fat smokers. It does, however, affect the taste buds of non smokers. It destroys the taste of food if cigarette smoke is breathed while eating. That is why (this) non smoker get so upset if smoke drifts into the non smoking area. (I am speaking for myself & other non smokers may or may not be affected like this)

[normy]

I only ate at Applebees once but it was pretty bad and their menu had almost nothing on it. I have a hard time giving bad resturants a second chance, especially when the advertise sirloin covered in picante sauce.

I have eaten at Carinos once and liked it alot, thanks for reminding me. There are so many Italian and Tex-Mex places some get lost in the shuffle. Carinos is definately worth revisiting.

[jimt]

Ease up there, friend.

Most of us are not complaining about Applebee's decision. My favorite Thai restaurant was non-smoking, even though the owners, who were also the only employees, were smokers. It simply was too small for a smoking / non-smoking section.

The comments I've read were critical of the Applebee's management's hypocrisy, not their policy.

The vast majority of restaurants here in Houston accomodate both, and it seems to work out well. With adequate ventilation and filtration everybody can be happy.