Charlottesville Restaurants Face December Smoking Ban

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Updated: 10:32 PM Oct 8, 2009 Charlottesville Restaurants Face December Smoking Ban The deadline is fast approaching for restaurants to ban smoking. Some Charlottesville restaurants and bars would like to create a separate ventilated room, but they find the regulations hard to understand. Posted: 6:37 PM Oct 8, 2009 Reporter: Liz Palka Email Address: liz.palka@newsplex.com

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October 8, 2009

Restaurants and bars around Charlottesville are getting ready to go smoke free, or make changes to accommodate their customers who smoke. At Two Sides Restaurant, smokers can only be in the bar which is in another room.

"I just don't want to change everybody's habits here," said John Madtes. "I want to keep them happy so our customers are satisfied."

They would like to continue smoking in their bar so they don't affect regular customers. But bar owners everywhere are saying the guidelines are vague.

"It would be helpful if someone went to all the bars and restaurants and gave a break down of what needed to be done in order to have smoking or keep smoking," said Madtes.

Some restaurants wanted to get ahead of the December 1st deadline. Staff at Buffalo Wild Wings weighed their options and decided smoke- free was the way to go. They banned smoking in early August.

"We figured we'd start a little early and try to get a jump start," said Kimberly White, a manager at Buffalo Wild Wings.

As a result, White says she has seen people coming into the restaurant that she didn't see before. There are more families coming in and bringing their young kids.

Latest Comments

Posted by: SR Location: Cville on Dec 2, 2009 at 02:16 PM

I think the Government should stay out of the business of regulating small businesses. It's everyone's right to choose where they work and frequent as customers. Let the individual businesses decide and let the free market make the Smoking/No-Smoking decision. As to all of those that say it's for the employees I don't but it. All of those employees knew before they took the job that the restaurant/bar allowed smoking and they could have easily applied/taken a job else where. Let ME decide as a business owner whether I will allow smoking or not and keep the government out of my Business.

Posted by: SNB Location: Cville on Oct 8, 2009 at 10:00 PM

Finally! There are certain restaurants I always avoid because of smoking - Mas, Waffle House (two ends of the spectrum) and it will be SO nice to not smell smoke while eating.

Posted by: MW Smith Location: Charlottesville on Oct 8, 2009 at 07:54 PM

Its about time! Smokers need to keep that filthy habit to themselves. After working in restaurants that allow smoking for years, working at Beer Run(Non - smoking) was a DREAM. The ban will only add to a lot of restaurants clientele, and not kill their employees at the same time! Cheers!!! Next up lets work on the cigarette trash that litters our landscape. Including throwing disgusting cigarette butts on the ground everywhere they go.(Littering = illegal) We ought to make the cigarette companies pay to clean up our filthy cigarette encrusted streets too! Pass that fee on to the smokers!!!

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