Smoking Restaurants Thrive

With the increased national outcry against smoking, getting a nicotine fix in public arenas can pose major problems, and nowhere is it more evident than in the local eateries. Since a partial non-smoking ban at restaurants took effect last December, smokers frequenting non-smoking restaurants must puff away outdoors in the freezing cold.

However, there are alternatives—not many, mind you.

But because the ban allows smoking in restaurants that offer separate ventilated rooms, a handful of restaurants have complied with the ordinance.  And, in most cases, those businesses are flourishing.

Both restaurants (at Four Mile Fork and downtown) report business is thriving.

"Both of our restaurants have been doing great," said Kelly Dactur, general manager of the downtown Hard Times.

Both restaurants already had separate ventilation, so keeping the smoking sections didn't involve extensive construction or changes. All that was needed downtown was to seal off a door between smoking and non-smoking sections (law requires that both smoking and non-smoking sections have separate entrances). The Four Mile Fork location required installing five new doors.

"We were really lucky because the cost to preserve our smoking rooms was minimal," she said.

, a large pool hall/restaurant near the Spotsylvania Towne Centre, was not quite as lucky. The entire restaurant allowed for smoking, putting the owners in a dilemma: either spend a fortune on a separate dining area or shut down.

General Manager John Allee delivered a creative approach to the problem. State law requires restaurants have sufficient space to accommodate non-smoking patrons, so Allee decided to survey his patrons and find out how many of them would actually use a non-smoking section.

"Only one out of about a thousand answered they would use a non-smoking room," he said.

Q Ball invested nearly $20,000 to construct what amounted to a separately ventilated 9-foot by 15-foot dining room with one small table and bench. The tiny area could pass as a glassed in coatroom. One artificial plant stands next to the table.

"It was really kind of ridiculous, but it needed to be done," said Allee. "It would have cost a fortune to build a large dining area. Frankly, only one person has ever used the dining area. That was a Santa Claus. He was wearing an expensive Santa Claus suit  and didn't want to get it all smokey, so he sat there by himself and ate dinner."

Allee said he's frequented several other local bars in the area that have not complied with the smoking regulations.

"It angers me because we jumped through all the hoops and laid out the money, then you have these bars that still allow smoking. It's not fair," he said.

The District Director for the Rappahannock Health District Dr. Brooke Rossheim said health regulators have not yet uncovered any violations. "If we get complaints we will investigate," he said, "but thus far everyone is in compliance." Rossheim said regulators inspect restaurants for food and smoking violations two to four times a year. 

Bailey's Pub in Central Park sunk more than $80,000 into a separate ventilation system. Head bartender Jason Yencha said the investment is more than paying for itself.

"Business is booming," he said. "Since the law went into effect we have tons of new customers because were one of the only smoking bars in town."

Also, he said, the non-smoking "family oriented" section is doing well. Other restaurants with smoking sections, Aladin Mediterranean Restaurant and Cafe, The Pub and the Dragon's Lair Billiard and Bistro, all report increased business since the smoking ban went into effect.