Bloomington bars have taken a hit
Bloomington bars have taken a hit
It is a hard fact the world over-smoking ban hurt bars and trade. This wouldn't be so bad if the anti smoking groups told you this up front,before votes were cast and decisions made-business owners who are wet led,could lobby for exemptions,indoor smoking rooms etc.
But the anti's won't tell you it hurts business because they don't care about your business,they are on a smoke free crusade and don't care who gets hurt in the cross fire.
City's smoking ban has been bad for business at many taverns
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
By FITZGERALD M. DOUBET
of The Journal Star
A SPECIAL SERIES
BLOOMINGTON - Bars here say business has not fared well since the introduction of the city's smoking ban at the beginning of the year.
The ban took effect on Jan. 1 for most, but some bars and restaurants that made plans to build outdoor smoking areas were given an extension to July 1 to comply with the ordinance.
Theresa Robison, who has worked at Bonker's Place, 1507 S. Main St., for nine years, said she has never seen business so bad for the bar before they were forced to ban smoking in July.
"A lot less people have been coming in, and we have not gotten any new customers or non-smoking customers," Robinson said.
While Bonker's managers have tried to recoup their losses since the ban took effect in Bloomington, business has remained slow.
"We're having bands and trying to get people to come in, but they just don't come in like they used to, and if they have to go outside to smoke, they leave," Robison said.
Jeff Skinner, owner of Illinois Brewing Company, 102 N. Center St., said he's noticed a big change since the Bloomington ban began. Skinner said he thinks, overall, restaurants are fairing better, but bar attendance is down.
"It has not been good. The smoking ban hurts the mom and pop places," he said. "The big chains want to turn the tables, but the mom and pop places, like myself, want people who are going to sit there and have an extra beer or two. Smokers want to have a cigarette between that."
Skinner said he believes the state smoking ban could help his business when bars outside Bloomington-Normal all become smoke free and that becomes the norm.
"I figure the smoke will clear eventually. There will still be bars five years from now, and hopefully, we'll be one of them," Skinner said.
Barb Clum, manager of The Hanger at the Central Illinois Regional Airport, said she has also seen a loss of business and said there is not much that can be done to improve it.
"There's not much we can do. We are in such an isolated area. We've only got passengers to deal with. We don't have just regular customers stopping in for lunch," Clum said.
Dianne Schottman, assistant manager of Gill Street Sports Bar and Restaurant, 3002 Gill St., Bloomington, said her bar has not been too affected by the city ban. Gill Street Sports Bar installed outdoor heaters and curtains in a patio area to help keep smokers warm.
"It is one of the better places in town where you can go out, have a cigarette and not freeze," Schottman said.
As of Jan. 1, however, the curtains will have to come down because of new state regulations, and bar managers will have to tell customers they will not be allowed to smoke in that area.
"I don't know what we are going to do," Schottman said. "I guess we'll just play it by ear and see what happens."
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/122607/TRI_BF98NNPE.017.php
It is a hard fact the world over-smoking ban hurt bars and trade. This wouldn't be so bad if the anti smoking groups told you this up front,before votes were cast and decisions made-business owners who are wet led,could lobby for exemptions,indoor smoking rooms etc.
But the anti's won't tell you it hurts business because they don't care about your business,they are on a smoke free crusade and don't care who gets hurt in the cross fire.
City's smoking ban has been bad for business at many taverns
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
By FITZGERALD M. DOUBET
of The Journal Star
A SPECIAL SERIES
BLOOMINGTON - Bars here say business has not fared well since the introduction of the city's smoking ban at the beginning of the year.
The ban took effect on Jan. 1 for most, but some bars and restaurants that made plans to build outdoor smoking areas were given an extension to July 1 to comply with the ordinance.
Theresa Robison, who has worked at Bonker's Place, 1507 S. Main St., for nine years, said she has never seen business so bad for the bar before they were forced to ban smoking in July.
"A lot less people have been coming in, and we have not gotten any new customers or non-smoking customers," Robinson said.
While Bonker's managers have tried to recoup their losses since the ban took effect in Bloomington, business has remained slow.
"We're having bands and trying to get people to come in, but they just don't come in like they used to, and if they have to go outside to smoke, they leave," Robison said.
Jeff Skinner, owner of Illinois Brewing Company, 102 N. Center St., said he's noticed a big change since the Bloomington ban began. Skinner said he thinks, overall, restaurants are fairing better, but bar attendance is down.
"It has not been good. The smoking ban hurts the mom and pop places," he said. "The big chains want to turn the tables, but the mom and pop places, like myself, want people who are going to sit there and have an extra beer or two. Smokers want to have a cigarette between that."
Skinner said he believes the state smoking ban could help his business when bars outside Bloomington-Normal all become smoke free and that becomes the norm.
"I figure the smoke will clear eventually. There will still be bars five years from now, and hopefully, we'll be one of them," Skinner said.
Barb Clum, manager of The Hanger at the Central Illinois Regional Airport, said she has also seen a loss of business and said there is not much that can be done to improve it.
"There's not much we can do. We are in such an isolated area. We've only got passengers to deal with. We don't have just regular customers stopping in for lunch," Clum said.
Dianne Schottman, assistant manager of Gill Street Sports Bar and Restaurant, 3002 Gill St., Bloomington, said her bar has not been too affected by the city ban. Gill Street Sports Bar installed outdoor heaters and curtains in a patio area to help keep smokers warm.
"It is one of the better places in town where you can go out, have a cigarette and not freeze," Schottman said.
As of Jan. 1, however, the curtains will have to come down because of new state regulations, and bar managers will have to tell customers they will not be allowed to smoke in that area.
"I don't know what we are going to do," Schottman said. "I guess we'll just play it by ear and see what happens."
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/122607/TRI_BF98NNPE.017.php
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