A new poll by the Department of Community Health reveals businesses are making the same amount of money now with the smoking ban in effect than they were without it. The study revealed the total sales tax revenue in 2011 for the month of September was $60 million, $5 million more than in 2010 when the ban had yet to be passed.
Crunchy's has been a local hot spot for years, but managers were afraid the smoking ban would put out business. Fortunately, they say it's had the opposite effect.
"Actually, it's improved with families. We have seen a lot more families come in throughout the day and on game days. It's just a clean healthy environment where people can come enjoy the game," said Manuel Macias, Crunchy's bartender. "The health benefits alone have been a huge plus when it comes to business, especially in a place like this. It's confined people don't want to be around a smoking area," said Macias.
Just down the road, Dagwood's Tavern says they have also seen a profit since the ban.
"In general, maybe the food business is up a bit, but everything else stayed on the same course," said Dagwood's manager Randy Farlin.
Farlin says sales look good now inside, there is concern about the ban and it's role on the outside seating, as they prepare for a new patio addition.
"We're in favor of being able to smoke on patio's, which you're not able to do right now. Where you serve on patios, you can't smoke outside. I think regulating smoking outside, that's going a little to far," said Farlin.
It's something Farlin says he will work to find a way to accomodate both smokers and business owners.
