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Minneapolis Bars Blame Smoking Ban For Closings

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Oct 2, 2005 11:32 pm US/Central

Minneapolis Bars Blame Smoking Ban For Closings

by Rick Fuentes
Minneapolis (WCCO) ― Minneapolis bars and restaurants went smoke-free on March 31 and some business owners say their earnings have gone up in smoke ever since.

Porter's Bar & Grill on Nicollet Avenue in South Minneapolis is one establishment that said it's closing its doors for good. It's been in business since 1938.

Thirty-five bars have gone out of business in Minneapolis since the ban went into effect. On average, that amounts to about one every eleven days.

"March 31 of this year, when the smoking ban went into effect, we lost about 30 percent of our customer base," said Matthew Lamphear, owner of Molly Quinn's Irish Pub.

Lamphear told almost all of his staff this is their last weekend.

"I've laid off about half my staff and I'm still losing $500 a day right now," Lamphear said. "That much business has moved elsewhere."

He said even a new $9,000 deck could not help.

"The smokers moved and the smoker's friends moved," Lamphear said.

Lamphear said he will try to stay open for another two weeks with two employees.

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