Posted on 05/11/2004 5:17:10 AM PDT by 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.
I agree and am glad to find someone that actually stays on the topic the thread was started on.
I have no problem with Applebee's going nonsmoking as a private business decision.
I find that interesting, since I know an awful lot of long time smokers. If smokers were dying off in record numbers like we are told, why haven't I seeen any?
I can't argue that smoking is good for me. I'm not that silly. But I don't think it's near as bad as some would like us to believe. Someday, I may even quit smoking. The rebel in me, however, generally does the exact opposite of what government and society tries to dictate I do.
Funny that you should mention homosexuals -- I have noticed a good number of the pro-tobacco crusaders who act just like the gay-agenda folks; they don't want mere tolerance, they demand active approval and endorsement of their lifestyle choices, and they want to silence anyone who talks about the detrimental effects.
I have no objection to the gays sodomizing each other, but I don't want them doing it at the adjacent table at Applebee's.
Your wife cannot be harmed by smoke in this restaurant if she is not there.
That said, I am likely to reward businesses who choose to ban smoking with my business. That's a free economy at work.
And who would they be?
Most of the people I am aquinted with are not "pro-tobacco crusaders" but private property rights crusaders.
I personally do not demand active approval or endorsement of my lifestyle choices. I really don't care if most people approve of or endorse my choices.
I can be swayed but mostly by family, friends, or personal experience, just like most other people.
She's not there, but now Applebees is choosing her patronage over yours and she will be there -- will you? I think your statement is absurd though.
Some people have fatal allergies to peanuts. Should peanuts and peanut products be banned from public places?
Should we ban alcohol also?
No one is advocating banning anything. The government isn't involved in this case.
Just be patient. The next WOD thread should be along anytime now, as soon as MrLeroy's latest incarnation gets logged on.
As it should be. I salute you.
At times, probably yes (I love their riblets), but probably not as much.
Why not? Her not smoking doesn't affect me. And Applebees can court any customers they choose. No problem.
I think your statement is absurd though.
In what way?
By the way -- she often doesn't choose to be attacked by cig. smoke (since she is allergic). Most of the time its forced on her (i.e. from a car in front of her at a red light, etc), or someone walking in to a place while smoking, in restraunts if someone starts smoking and it manages to find its way to the farthest point of non-smoking (happens often) then we are forced to leave. I'm not against cigs, but the people that maintain that it cannot hurt others irritate the bejessus out of me because they speak out of arrogance and ignorance.
No. But the question would be more appropriately addressed to the other poster.
BTW, although irrelevant, I do not smoke. Nor do I defend rude people. I do defend property rights.
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