Jump to full article: WWBT NBC12 (Richmond, VA), 2009-11-17
Author: Heather Sullivan - Posted by Terry Alexander
Intro: December first, a new statewide smoking ban takes effect. Restaurants and bars must go smoke-free or provide a separate room for smokers. Will this help or hurt local restaurants?
Restaurants are allowed to let customers smoke only in a separate room that has its own ventilation, so that smoke does not drift into the main dining room. They can also allow smoking on outdoor patios.
At Calabash Seafood in Mechanicsville, a club and restaurant where patrons can currently smoke, they're building a new smoking section: an enclosed patio.
"We're going to put in some heating and some ceiling fans and try to make it as comfortable as we can for them," said owner Dennis Smith.
Owners Dennis and Janet Smith say they're spending about $20,000 to build the smoking patio and remodel their indoor restaurant and lounge, which will be smoke-free. They believe it will pay off.
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