Smoking ban in Dallas

[ivanrod007]

I was wondering how the Houston people dealt with the smoking ban issue?
Here in Dallas we are having a lot of push from the city council to ban smoking everywhere. Right now the only place exempt is your house or your cigar store. Bars, billiard halls will be smoke free if this passes.
As a cigar lounge/bar owner I am trying to convince the City council to exempt us as well because we market to cigar smokers and we have a great air filtration system. The council did not know that cigar bars existed or that there is precedent of the law in other cities, they want to put us in a "bar" category but we do not sell 75% alcohol. Any tips on what to do ?

[tx_tuff]

Yes the smoking ban here sucks thats for sure. B&Ms and Cigar Bars are exempt in our plan. But all other Bars etc.. are included. Those places that are banned I just avoid now. Good thing for me and many others I know here that smoke is we either live out of the city limits or close to outside them. The only other way is a bar with an outside section (mostly sports bars), then you can still smoke outside.

So I don't know if that would be the same there in Dallas. But if you don't have an outside patio area already that may be something to look into. Add some heaters for weather and fans for summer.

[mc2712]

I work on downtown Houston the bars and clubs do not stay in business very long. Most of these business owners think its direct result of the smoking ban in the Houston city limits. The funny thing is the power that be in Houston are tring to make downtown the place to be, but the smoking ban killed that.

[Mowee-cl]

Yeah but at least Houston repeals the ban during the RTDA....the big thing in Dallas is no smoking within 15 feet of a door....or else a 200$ fine. The city council gets briefed on Dec 3rd and the vote is the 10th. Everyone who is opposed needs to be there at the meetings.

[Mowee-cl]

Originally Posted by mc2712

I work on downtown Houston the bars and clubs do not stay in business very long. Most of these business owners think its direct result of the smoking ban in the Houston city limits. The funny thing is the power that be in Houston are tring to make downtown the place to be, but the smoking ban killed that.

Chris...didn't Pasadena repeal its ban due to lost business?

[mc2712]

Originally Posted by Mowee

Chris...didn't Pasadena repeal its ban due to lost business?

I don't know i'll have to research and find out, but it sounds like something Pasadena would do.

[mc2712]

Yes Pasadena, TX. did ease some of its somking ban, City Council approved new guidelines that allow smoking in any establishment where the sale of alcohol is at least 60 percent of its revenue. "Now people are coming back because they can smoke".

[tx_tuff]

Wow a city that really cares about what the people want! I can't believe it!

[undergroundspy713]

I've smoked many a times downtown walking from our corporate hq to the B&M with Albert. Many HPD officers don't even care as they are too busy with red light runners in downtown. It's the ones who really don't like the smell of cigar smoke but somehow can stand cigarette smoke. This shit puzzles me. Albert did receive a ticket/fine but he got it quickly waived. Seems to me it depends on who you are, who you know how they handle the crap in Houston. Until then, light it up!!!

[tx_tuff]

You can smoke outside in Houston, thats not the issue.

[Rowdymon-cl]

Originally Posted by tx_tuff

Wow a city that really cares about what the people want! I can't believe it!

Well it is Pasa-get-down-dena Frank...

I would drink alot too if I lived here...*laugh*
Truly though, it is nice to see a city that stood up to the anti smoking lobby, even if only a little bit.

[cheesehead]

my sales have been declining since the ban went into effect. even though you can smoke in my shop[mccoys] it was a lot better when the bars allowed smoking . more of a after work and haappy hour crowd. all gone now. clubs open and close about every six months.

[tx_tuff]

Those Clubs downtown always opened and closed like that, but there is no doubt that the big cowds have died down over the last couple of years. That is prob a understatement. I would say the crowds are less then 1/3 of what they where 2 or 3 years ago when it was really booming! There was a couple places I loved to smoke at downtown, a couple Pubs, a freaking nice steak house (in the bar area). But now I can't, the only reason I go downtown now is to work or see a baseball game.

Sorry to hear about the shop Mike, I know its a great place and you have been there a LONG time.

[Mr.Erskine-cl]

May God have mercy on you. In the great republic of Maryland, you can't smoke anywhere, and in some cities, they're even starting to ban smoking in your vehicle.

[ivanrod007]

Thanks for all the comments. For us in Dallas is been though. First of all downtown Dallas does not have many residents; the traffic we get at the cigar bar (Havana Social Club) is dependent on the games at American Airlines center, and with the economy and the crappy play of our local teams this last month and a half have been slow for business. Also, many of our members are waiting to hear about the smoking ban to renew the meberships.
This ban in Dallas is being pushed by the Mayor, the vote is next wednesday and I've been trying to get an exemption. The funny thing is that they did not even know what a cigar bar was until I got up there and told them. I'll find out more today when the re written ordinance is passed to the councilmembers for review. I'll update you on the results.
Good day smokers