Oct 11, 2007 5:10 pm US/Central
Bar Owners Surprised By Smoking Ban-Era Business
OAKDALE, Minn. (CBS) ―
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Some smokers have been taking their business to Hudson, Wis. (File)
CBS
This Thursday, it will have been 11 days since the statewide smoking ban went into effect. Since then, many bar and restaurant owners are seeing an unexpected result.
"I was bracing myself for the worst," said Bierstube bar owner Jim Yanz.
He said he had many sleepless nights in the months leading up to the statewide smoking ban, especially since he sold more alcohol than food at his restaurant.
"Smoking and drinking go hand in hand, so that's where I was worried," Yanz said.
Because of that, many smokers came to the Oakdale location, something that kept a number of would-be diners away.
"You have the smell and the smoke and everybody walking around with cigarettes," said diner Jerry Reis.
"I would never bring my kids here. We never brought them in here when it was smoking," said diner Pamela Meyer.
Ever since the Bierstube went smoke-free, there has been a noticeable unexpected increase in business leaving the owner, who admitted to being "pleasantly surprised." More families come in now, and more food is served.
"Outdoor space, heated areas like this seem to be appeasing most smokers but some others still run for the border," said Yanz.
Meanwhile in Hudson, Wis., Pudge's parking lot is filled with Minnesota plates.
"We're rolling down the road and I said, 'Let's stop for a beer.' And I said, 'We could go right or left or we could go to Hudson, where we can smoke,'" said smoker Keith McDonough.
Hudson is exactly where they ended up. Now smokers feel inconvenienced, while non-smokers and once-worried Minnesota restaurant owners are breathing a sigh of relief.
Hospitality Minnesota, which lobbies lawmakers for bar and restaurant owners, said it has not heard much negative feedback since the smoking ban went into effect, but they stressed it may be too soon to tell.
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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