Posted on 07/17/2002 12:11:36 PM PDT by SheLion
METHUEN -- A decision to suspend a ban on smoking in Haverhill restaurants has heartened many restaurateurs in nearby Methuen, which also prohibits smoking in eateries.
"I think it's great. I'd like to know how they did it so we can do it here," said Lou Zahos, owner of the 1859 House on Hampshire Street, reflecting the sentiments of several Methuen restaurant owners who say they've lost business because of their community's 4-month-old smoking ban.
Though this week's reprieve in Haverhill may be a temporary one -- the city's Board of Health will make a final decision on the smoking ban Aug. 13 -- that hasn't stopped some Methuen proprietors from hoping for a similar moratorium in their city.
"It's hitting us guys in the pocketbook really bad," City Councilor Michael Condon, who also owns the Red Tavern on Pleasant Street, said of the smoking ban. "I'm going to wait until after August and I think we're going to have to rally the troops and see what the next step is going to be because I know I can't take a hit like I'm taking."
Like many Methuen restaurateurs, Condon said he has lost customers to communities where smoking is still allowed in restaurants -- like Lawrence, Dracut and Salem, N.H. -- since the Methuen ban went into effect.
"I can throw a rock to Salem, N.H.," he said. "They're running ads, 'Come smoke with us.' Salem is smoking. How do you combat that?"
Condon said he does not allow smoking in his function facility, but permits it after 10 p.m. in the pub portion of his business. The town lets restaurants permit smoking after the kitchen has closed and food is no longer being served.
He said he would prefer to go back to the previous system where restaurants were allowed to have different sections set aside for smokers and nonsmokers.
"It hurts the mom and pop operations, the ones that are the core providers for the community," he said of the smoking prohibition.
Other Methuen restaurant owners said they, too, have lost customers and would like to see the smoking ban reversed.
"I can't say it's killing my business, but for the people who want to come in here and who do smoke, which is something they've done forever, I've lost all those people," said Diane Frechette, owner of Norm's White Horse, 510 Lowell St.
Frechette acknowledged that the food portion of her business has actually increased since the smoking ban, but "I've been hurt on the bar business part. ... My bartender is sitting around saying, 'What am I doing here?' "
She said she and other restaurateurs are "pretty appalled by the town just coming in and saying, this is the law and you've got to abide by it. Next thing you know, they're going to be telling us, no, you can't serve butter. And we cook with a lot of butter."
Hind Asmar, co-owner of Shadi's, 58 Osgood St., said the ban has hurt her bar business, but not the food end of her operation. She said she doesn't mind banning smoke in the dining room, but would like to see it allowed in the bar, where more smokers congregate.
However, Charlie Bonnano, co-owner of Mamma Mary's, 322 Merrimack St., said he hasn't noticed the ban having much effect on his business.
"Maybe some of my early morning customers, when they like to have a coffee and a cigarette," he said, "but many of them just go outside."(Your lucky POPS. I sure wouldn't come into your place. Your lucky)
"I think I've probably picked up some customers who go for the no smoking," he added, " so it's got pros and cons."
But Dr. Dante Santone, chairman of the Methuen Board of Health, saw nothing good in reversing the city's smoking ban.
He said the several new restaurants that have opened in town recently -- including the Outback Steak House, Macaroni Grill, Not Your Average Joe's and others -- have done more to hurt business at locally owned establishments than the smoking ban has.
"People need to understand that second-hand smoke is a Class A carcinogen (one that is known to cause cancer in humans). No one should be allowed to release a Class A carcinogen in a public environment," he said.
SO IS SUNSHINE A CLASS A CARCINOGEN. HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE DARK SO LONG THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT?!
Can anyone believe this guy???!!!
I just wish they would tell the truth and let people make up their own minds.
Joe! They are being pushed out by a cookie cutter.
Exactly! They must think we are a bunch of idiots out here.
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