Replies

sheesh.

Of course the pool of available customers decreased. Smokers stopped going out and many of their non-smoking friends did the same. It's amazing how many of my friends are still going to places in Maryland, nearly a year after the Delaware ban went into effect. The places with outdoor seating for dining and entertainment didn't fair as badly this spring and summer as those without, but because it was either unbearably hot or raining the better part of this summer, they did not do as well as even last summer.

A dear friend of mine bought a place about 3 years ago after 20 years of working in other places. She was doing a booming business with her lunch, happy hour and nighttime crowds. Within 6 months after the ban she scrapped her plans to open on Sunday. Lunch business is still booming - but for take-out not sit-down and eat in. She used to have 3 karaoke nights a week - that's down to twice a month. Those nights used to be so packed that she had more than one visit from the fire marshall.

Which brings up the ancilliary businesses being hurt by these bans. Bar and club bands and DJS are all hurting because a lot of the regular places they played can't afford to pay them, because they don't have the customers to justify the cost.