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The Facts About The Smoking Ban. If you're a business owner or not, this is a must read!
The Facts Online ^ | 11-01-03 | Dave Hitt

Posted on 11/06/2003 7:28:30 AM PST by SheLion

Every company's greatest assets are its customers, because without customers there is no company.
- Michael LeBoeuf

Businesses Harmed by Smoking Bans

Anti-smoking organizations insist that bans are somehow good for people in hospitality businesses. This chart shows otherwise. These businesses have lost a significant portion of their business as a direct result of smoking bans. Many are closed. Many that are still open have told us they doubt they'll survive much longer.

Most of this information comes directly from businesses that have contacted me or my colleagues. Some comes from newspaper articles. Blank spaces in the chart represent data that is unavailable, or that doesn't apply. (For instance, a distributor doesn't receive tips, and many owner-operators of small taverns don't have any employees other than themselves and family members.)


Business Type Of
Business
Closed? Business
Lost
Tips
Lost
Jobs
Lost
City State

 
Crocodile Cafe Restaurant Closed 100% 100% Tempe AZ
Pooch's Easy Street Billiards Pool Hall Closed 100% 100% Tempe AZ
Laurel Bowl Bowling Alley Closed 100% 100% San Luis Obispo CA
385 league bowlers quit when the smoking ban went into effect, with a loss of $200,000. Laurel Bowl had been in business for 37 years before the ban.
Alexander Mackenzie Inn Hotel Not Yet 92% 16 Fort St. John CAN
"Since we were `beaten' into compliance by the WCB, our business has dropped in the lounge from $1,000 a day to $80. "
Beacon Hill Arms Tavern Closed 100% 100% Ottawa CAN
Dave O'Connor, who successfully ran Ottawa's Beacon Hill Arms pub for nine years, said the ban forced him out of business. "From September to February, we lost close to $80,000 in sales"
Bud's Place Tavern Not Yet 23% Cambrage CAN
Gardeli's Bar/Restaurant Closed 100% 100% Castlegar CAN
Hemingway's Bar/Restaraunt Not Yet 40% 6 Ottawa CAN
MacKenzie Lounge Tavern Not Yet 80% Yellowknife CAN
Mingles Coffee Shoppe Coffee Shop Closed 100% 100% Kitchener CAN
Rupert Pub Tavern Closed 100% 100% Prince Rupert CAN
Sky Garden Restaurant Closed 100% 100% 6 Ottawa CAN
"It was 100% because of the bylaw. Sales dropped 50%. Our cups of coffee were down 400 to 500 a day, our meals 20 to 30 a day."
The Patch Tavern Not Yet 70% St. Albert CAN
Tubbys Pizza Pizza Parlor Not Yet 20% 2 Crescentwood CAN
Back Stage Cafe Bar/Restaurant Closed 100% 100% 20 Wilmington DE
Coach House Bar/Restaurant Closed 100% 100% 8 Wilmington DE
Just Mugs Saloon Tavern Not Yet 33% Bear DE
Naamans Cafe Restaurant Closed 100% 100% 8 Wilmington DE
Elks #1795 Lodge (Private Club) Not Yet 40% 22% Fort Walton FL
"Charity money is down 45%. Our Charities are Kids of Florida and the Veterans. That is who is really getting hurt the most by this!"
Elks #2256 Lodge (Private Club) Not Yet 20% 30% Pensacola Beach FL
"We've lost 70 members because of the ban"
Elks #2273 Lodge (Private Club) Not Yet 60% 60% 1 Plantation FL
Melons Bar & Grill Bar/Restruant Not Yet 50% Port Charlotte FL
The Falls Restaurant Closed 100% 100% Naples FL
"We lost 70 percent of our income," Renzello said. "The law put us out of business." 90 percent of her customers were smokers.
Bart's Bar/Restaurant Closed 100% 100% Louisville CO
Bart's had been in operation for nearly 30 years.
Gold Mine Restaraunt Bar/Restaraunt Not Yet 50% 50% 2 Fall River MA
"There should be places for both the smoker and nonsmoker. I do not smoke but you are killing our business!!! "
Buffalo Wings and Beer Bar/Restruant Not Yet 50% Gaithersburg MD
Gentleman Jim's Restaurant Not Yet 40% Gaithersburg MD
J.J. Muldoon's Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 20% Gaithersburg MD
Middlebrook Restaurant and Lounge Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 50% Germantown MD
"I'm so bitter today because I have worked too hard to keep this business going. It's just not fair."
Pelican Pete's Restaurant Not Yet 60% Germantown MD
Tommy Joe's Restaurant Restruant Not Yet 30% Bethesda MD
Nutshell Tavern Tavern Closed 100% 100% Biddeford ME
Village Variety Closed 100% Fryeburg ME
Grandma's Restaraunt Not Yet 33% Cloquet MN
Perkins Restaraunt Not Yet 26% Duluth MN
Aessa Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 35% 6 New York NY
Argyle's EasyStreet Tavern Tavern Not Yet 12% Cortland NY
Athens Cafe Restaurant Not Yet 55% 10 Astoria NY
Blessed Sacrament Church Bingo Not Yet 50% Albany NY
Brazen Head Pub Tavern Not Yet 40% Monroe NY
Brown Shanty Tavern Not Yet 20% 1 Watertown NY
Champions Billiards Cafe Brew Pub/Pool Hall Not Yet 33% Parkville NY
Chili American Legion Post 1830 Private Club Not Yet 70% Scottsville NY
Coleman's Irish Pub Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 19% 4 Syracuse NY
Crossroads Steak House Restaurant Closed 100% 100% Kennedy NY
Delmar Sportsman's Tavern Tavern Not Yet 30% 1 Massena NY
"We had hoped...nonsmokers who haven't been frequenting taverns due to the smoke-filled air would make up for at least some of the financial loss. Unfortunately, at least in our place, this has most definitely not happened. Our sales are at an all time low"
Desperado's Tavern Not Yet 90% Wallkill NY
"I can count on my fingers the people who don't smoke who come in here. The regulars say they won't come."
Dodesters Tavern Not Yet 9% Syracuse NY
Eagle Beverage Company Distributor Not Yet 25% N/A Oswego NY
"Deliveries to pubs and taverns have decreased substantially, greater than 25 percent."
Edigan's Restaurant Closed 100% 100% Binghamton NY
End Zone Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 30% 1 Liverpool NY
Euzkadi Restaurant Not Yet 50% New York NY
Fiddler's Green Tavern Closed 100% 100% New York NY
We have just lost too many customers to this law, which I did not vote for, bar owners did not vote for, bartenders did not vote for, and the public did not vote for."
Finish Line Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 40% 2 Bellerose NY
Fountain Bowl Bowling Alley Not Yet 40% N/A 8 Jamestown NY
Golden Rail Ale House Tavern Not Yet 75% Newburgh NY
Harry's Hanover Square Bar/Restaraunt Closed 100% 100 New York NY
"Overnight, we lost 60 percent of our evening bar trade. For the bar, it was the difference in profit and loss. Sales of expensive cigars had been almost as important as the sales of Scotch" Harry's had been in business for more than thirty years
Holmes & Watson's Tavern Not Yet 30% Troy NY
Hotel McDonald Hotel Not Yet 70% Bath NY
Just One More Tavern Not Yet 30% Bath NY
Liberty Lanes Bowling Not Yet 27% Camden NY
Mama Lena's Restaurant Closed 100% 100% Binghamton NY
Mama Lena's had been in business for more than 40 years.
Mel's Place Tavern Not Yet 78% 100% Falconer NY
"When we bought this place, we throught we were buying our American Dream. We ran it successfully for 10 years. Now the government is stripping us from making a living. "
Middleport Inn Bar/Restaurant Closed 100% 100% 13 Middleport NY
"This damn state really knows how to kill people's dreams."
Millennium Restaurant Not Yet 40% 3 New York NY
Nibsy's Pub Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 18% Syracuse NY
Rafferty's Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 35% 2 Syracuse NY
Richard's Ole Timer Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 17% 1 Clay NY
Roesch's Tavern Tavern Closed 100% 100% 5 New York NY
This had been a family business for more than a century
Salingers Tavern Not Yet 35% 2 Rochester NY
Sevens Bar Tavern Not Yet 10% Malone NY
Shamrock Tavern Tavern Not Yet 50% Oswego NY
"It's not right. Our livelihood is being taken away."
Slade Restaurant Not Yet 40% New York NY
Slick Willie's Billiard Hall Not Yet 25% Tonawanda NY
Stumble Inn Tavern Closed 100% 100% Champlain NY
Taylor's Trackside Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 50% Remsen NY
Temple Israel Bingo Not Yet 50% Albany NY
According to Herb Holland, some of the regulars told volunteers that they would abstain from playing bingo, to protest the smoking ban. He hasn't seen them since.
The Lilly Pad Tavern Closed 100% 100% Falconer NY
The Lodge at the Lake Inc Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 50% 1 Broadalbin NY
The Loft Tavern Not Yet 30% Frewsburg NY
"Our town has no attractions to draw in outsiders. We have only locals to rely on as patrons and 95% of them smoke. It will be worse when the snow sets in."
The Roadhouse Tavern Not Yet 40% Brewster NY
Thompson Road Tavern Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 25% Syracuse NY
Village Tavern Bar/Restaurant Not Yet 10% Marcellus NY
Bliss' Steak Ranch Restaurant Closed 100% 100% Eugene OR
Closed after 32 years in business
Doc's Pad Tavern Closed 100% 100% 24 Eugene OR
"Let's face it, the economy is horrible. But for us specifically, the smoking ban was the knockout punch." The Olsen family had owned Doc's for 16 years.
Max's Tavern Tavern Closed 100% 100% Eugene OR
The Peacock Tavern Not Yet 40% Corvallis OR
Connor owned the Peacock for years - and says it was the ban that caused him to sell the bar. He says business gross fell from $1.5 million in 1997, the year before the ban went into effect, to $900,000 last year.
China One Restaurant Closed 100% 100 Round Rock TX


CAN=Canada

If your business has been harmed by a smoking ban, or if you know of one that has been, please let us know. If possible, have the owner contact us. Newspaper articles are also welcome. Please include the URL. .

Click here to contact us.

Last Update: Saturday, November 01, 2003

© 2000 - 2003 Dave Hitt

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: antismokers; bans; butts; cigarettes; individualliberty; michaeldobbs; niconazis; prohibitionists; pufflist; smokingbans; taxes; tobacco
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To: jsbankston
Talk about twisted logic. Typical anti-smoker attitude. You don't care what it does to business just as long as you have your way. Sure doesn't sound like capitalism to me.
121 posted on 11/06/2003 12:42:03 PM PST by Gabz (Smoke-gnatzies - small minds buzzing in your business - SWAT'EM)
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To: Mears
Making Mass non-smoking will not level the playing field for those establishments that are on the NH,RI,and VT border.CT also,but I think it has a ban.

Ah, you underestimate the MA legislature -- they may yet come up with something. I believe the current law on Sunday liquor sales is that they're legal in towns within 10 miles of the NH border. (That, of course, just moves the location of the most negatively affected 10 miles south.) Or they could try a variant of when they had MA state police lurking at the boarder to intimidate people driving into NH to buy liquor (on Sunday or otherwise) or just to avoid the MA sales tax. (There was a great hue and cry over that one, and they stopped.)

122 posted on 11/06/2003 12:44:26 PM PST by maryz
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To: TheOtherOne
Good for you, I hope you enjoy no rights because you want no compromise. I would vote to keep the bans over having none. You lose people like me with your all or nothing positions.

give me a break, so you want me to have no rights because I stick up for my rights and will not compromise? What a silly notion.

I will fight for every one of my constitutional rights, giving none of them up without a fight

123 posted on 11/06/2003 12:44:55 PM PST by Legerdemain
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To: Legerdemain
If you think smoking is a Constitutional right, that is your first problem.
124 posted on 11/06/2003 12:47:16 PM PST by TheOtherOne
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To: Gabz
I love your reference to places with buffets. They are great for people who are too cheap to leave a tip.

When the big salad bar phase was in about 10 years ago I refused to use them because of the fact that they were so unsanitary.

As far as the TB commentary from hotshot,it is really reaching below the belt as far as I'm concerned--my father died at age 31 of TB.
125 posted on 11/06/2003 12:47:58 PM PST by Mears
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To: Gabz
Studies have shown that smoke-free policies implemented in other communities do not result in a lossof revenue for restaurants and bars. In many cases, such establishments experience increased salesfollowing a smoking ban.•

A study by Cornell University researchers found that a smoke-free policy attracted more businessand revenue to restaurants than it drove away. The study examined how New Yorkers’ dining habitsand spending patterns changed in the four months following New York City’s Smoke-Free Air Actimplementation. The results showed that non-smokers are eating out more, and are more thanmaking up for the lost revenues caused by smokers not eating out as frequently. (David Corsun et.al., “Should NYC’s Restaurateurs Lighten Up?” Cornel Hotel and Restaurant AdministrationQuarterly, April 1996.)•

A survey of Massachusetts adults, published in the American Journal of Public Health (Dec. 1997)found that an overwhelming 89% of respondents would go out to bars more often or the sameamount if all bars in the state were 100% smoke free.•

A study of the aggregate restaurant sales data from West Lake Hills, Texas (a suburb of Austin)found that the city’s smoke-free ordinance enacted in June 1993 did not decrease sales revenueamong restaurants. (“Assessment of the Impact of a 100% Smoke-Free Ordinance on RestaurantSales West Lake Hills, Texas,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers for Disease Controland Prevention, May 19, 1995.)•

A study of the economic impact of smoke-free bar ordinances on bar sales in seven Californiacommunities found no significant impact on business. Published in the American Journal of PublicHealth, the University of California study (Dr. Stanton Glantz and Lisa Smith) examined sales taxreceipts for five California cities and two counties that have laws requiring bars to be 100% smokefree. They found that none of these communities suffered any significant loss of business due to thesmoke-free bar ordinances. In fact, relative to total retail sales, bar sales actually increased in all butone of the communities.• A study of 15 communities in California and Colorado concluded that smoke-free ordinances donot hurt restaurant sales. (Stanton Glantz and Lisa Smith, “The Effect of Ordinances RequiringSmoke-Free Restaurants on Restaurant Sales,” American Journal of Public Health, July 1994.)• The publishers of Zagat Restaurant Guides found in their annual survey of more than 16,000 NewYork City restaurant patrons that eating out had increased in the six months since the city’s cleanindoor air law took effect. (Nov. 15, 1995, Press Release, 1996 Zagat NYC Restaurant Survey.)•

A study of the aggregate meal tax receipts in Brookline, Massachusetts found that a smoke-freepolicy for all restaurants did not have a measurable immediate effect on the city’s total restaurantbusiness. (“Preliminary Analysis of the Economic Impact of Brookline’s Restaurant Smoking Ban,”Health Economics Research Inc., November 20, 1995.)•

A study of restaurant sales data in Flagstaff, Arizona, found that the city’s restaurant smoking bandid not adversely affect restaurant sales. (John Sciacca et. al., “Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants:Effects on Restaurant Sales.”)
126 posted on 11/06/2003 12:49:00 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: TheOtherOne
To: (use semi-colons to separate multiple recipients) TheOtherOne Your Reply: (HTML auto-detected, see help for more information) Tag line (optional, printed after your name on post): I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition. Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts. In the News/Activism forum, on a thread titled The Facts About The Smoking Ban. If your a business owner or not, this is a must read!, TheOtherOne wrote: I live in LA, we went through all that years ago. The joke of 'smoking' and 'non-smoking' sections in the same restaurant, with no actual barriers. Now we have an all out ban. I am perfectly happy with things as they are. But I am willing to have businesses have the right to allow smoking. Guess you prefer nothing to a license. You will never get what you are seeking - I would take the resonable path to get smoking back into the restaurants and bars that choose. unfortunately it is people like you who are weak and do not stand up for the individuals rights that have got us into this nanny state mess....

liberal is as liberal does

127 posted on 11/06/2003 12:49:40 PM PST by Legerdemain
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To: cinFLA
Still carrying water for the Nanny State blue-stockings, I see.

Maybe if you keep your nose clean, you'll be trusted to fetch coffee.
128 posted on 11/06/2003 12:52:13 PM PST by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: Gabz
Some of the worst hit places in Delaware,

Seems that the Delaware Restaurant Association SUPPORTED the ban on smoking. Sort of deflates your argument.

129 posted on 11/06/2003 12:53:02 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: cinFLA
you'll be trusted to fetch coffee.

If coffee's still legal, of course.

130 posted on 11/06/2003 12:53:52 PM PST by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: headsonpikes
Still carrying water for the Nanny State blue-stockings, I see.

You mean it is the nanny-state when 89% of the population and the Restaurant Association support a law????

131 posted on 11/06/2003 12:54:36 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: cinFLA
We're a republic, not a democracy.
132 posted on 11/06/2003 12:57:01 PM PST by Liberal Classic (No better friend, no worse enemy.)
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To: CSM
The are a couple of ex-car hop driveins in FL, one in Auburndale(sp?)and one in Lakeland (called Tom's). Wonderful food, cramped (8 tables) and one block from my townhouse. The smokers now eat under the awning outside. It's wonderful. No more visable haze while inside. Yes I used to suffer occasionally for the price and food. Price? Wo-Ho! Good food? Right-on! capitalisim at work. If the food and price was right I ate. Since July 1, I just eat there every day when I'm in Fl. instead of occasionally. Did you ever wonder what happened to all of the girls on roller skates that used to work there? Different age, different crowd.
133 posted on 11/06/2003 12:57:32 PM PST by hotshot
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To: SheLion
A woman after my own heart.


134 posted on 11/06/2003 12:57:51 PM PST by Liberal Classic (No better friend, no worse enemy.)
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To: hotshot
I eat at Bonanza in Delmar, Roadhouse in Fruitland, English's in Salisbury, Golden Corral in Seaford, Britts in Laurel, Phillips in OC all in Md and DE none of these businesses have closed of are hurting.

hmmmmm......I did not know that Bonanza and Golden Corral had bars...wow, I can now get a beer with my never ending supply of bad shrimp and steak....sign me up

135 posted on 11/06/2003 12:58:47 PM PST by Legerdemain
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To: bjcintennessee
ping for later.
136 posted on 11/06/2003 12:59:22 PM PST by bjcintennessee (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff)
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To: hotshot
And I pay $150 more a month in health insurance so you can "enjoy" your addiction. Never forget a friend from Federalsburg, MD that smoked through the hole in his throat after they took his tongue, voice box, jaw and other smoke related injury to himself out. "enjoy!"

hmmm....I though I paid a surcharge on my health insurance for smoking.......which insurance company are you with. I think I would change.

137 posted on 11/06/2003 1:00:54 PM PST by Legerdemain
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To: cinFLA
Yes, they supported it to "level the playing field" with the bars that allowed smoking. Send out your next strawman will ya?

Once again, which of the restaurants on the list did you call and confirm that they were open for lunch?

As you can tell, I have waited until you posted on this board to ask the question. The lack of answer from you indicates that you are purposfully ignoring the question, not that you are not seeing the question. Since, I have reasonably assumed that you made the calls and have reasonably been patient, I can only assume that your lack of answer shows that you are unwilling to answer. Your unwillingness to answer tells me that you are purposefully posting lies on this thread. If you do not answer the question this time, your entire posting on this thread can reasonably be considered moot.

I suggest you come clean or leave the thread!
138 posted on 11/06/2003 1:01:28 PM PST by CSM (Moose Flatulence, MF for short is a bain on our future. Stop the MF today!!! (Flurry, 11/06/2003))
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To: Liberal Classic
We're a republic, not a democracy.

Correct. And as a republic, the state of Delaware enacted the smoking ban along with strong public and commercial support.

139 posted on 11/06/2003 1:03:27 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: Gabz
I have not said I was an anti-smoker, in fact, my wife smokes socially, and prefers restaurants that are non smoking. My only point is that if there are two restaurants in the same jurisdiction who operate under the same smoking ban and one goes out of business it must be because the product or service are inferior.
140 posted on 11/06/2003 1:04:12 PM PST by jsbankston
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