For restaurants' banned smokers, it's great outdoors
By Georgia East
Staff Writer
Posted March 15 2004
For a decade, the dimly
lit, intimate atmosphere of Paolo's 3's Company has made the family-owned Italian
restaurant a mainstay in Dania Beach. But these days the attraction is no longer the
lighting -- it's the lighting up.
When the state banned indoor smoking on July 1,
owner Paolo DeFrancisci saw his business drop significantly.
"The
very next week I went to the bank and requested a loan," said DeFrancisci, who spent
$215,000 to build a deck so diners could smoke outdoors.
At Paolo's and
across South Florida smokers are once again enjoying cigarettes with dinner as restaurant
owners are finding innovative ways to abide by the state's smoking ban. Some business
owners say they are experiencing longer lines for outdoor tables, prompting them to expand
even further.
Some restaurant owners who can't or don't want
to expand outdoor seating have another option -- limiting their menus to keep their indoor
smoking privileges. The constitutional amendment voters approved in 2002 allows smoking in
bars that take in less than 10 percent of their revenue from food sales.
"As
long as they meet the parameters of the law they can do it," said Lea Cursberg,
spokeswoman for the Florida Restaurant Association. "We've seen a lot more outdoor
places in Tallahassee and around the state."
Hooters restaurant in Pembroke
Pines has seating for up to 70 on its outdoor deck, but plans call for expanding it even
more in the next several months, said manager Scott Gulick. He cited an increased demand
for the outside tables since the ban.
It's a similar story at Pussers At the Beach
in Fort Lauderdale, where manager Brian David has noticed a 40
percent rise in requests for outdoor tables. Those who used to have a drink at the
bar now choose to sit outside to smoke. And most nights, he said, there's a wait for an
outside table.
The new rules
But before restaurant owners get ready to pour
concrete for that outdoor patio, they need to be aware of the state's regulations. An
outdoor seating area is considered "legitimate" if no more than 50 percent of
the patio is covered with a roof, allowing for air flow, said Kristin Plaska, spokeswoman
for the state's Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Florida
joins several other states, including California and New York, in banning smoking. But
South Florida restaurant owners have a definite advantage since they can offer outdoor
seating during the winter.
"Even when it's a little cooler people still want
to sit outside so they can smoke," said John Michalak, manager at Jimmy's Stone Crabs
in Delray Beach, where the five sidewalk tables are in high demand. Down the street at
Sopra, about twice as many diners now request outdoor seating, said Dave D'Ambrosio, the
restaurant's director of operations. On a recent Saturday, 82
customers had dinner outside, he said.
"If anything, we're
saving money," he said, explaining the restaurant doesn't have to spend money to
replace seat cushions damaged by cigarette burns or clean curtains as often now that they
don't get smoky.
Doc Bowers, owner of Player's Restaurant and Lounge in Dania
Beach, said he's lost about 30 percent of his customers since the ban took effect. He
recently asked the Dania Beach City Commission for permission to serve alcohol outdoors.
The commission denied the request, citing concerns about having outdoor drinking in a spot
with so many passersby.
Tough on business
Bowers says he continues to deal
with the decline.
"It's not just us, it's everybody," he said. "All
of our competition is hurting."
That's what led Tony Giammeresi, part owner of
Sharkey's Bar and Grill in Coral Springs, to apply for the liquor license needed to serve
a wider array of alcohol. He then slightly reduced his food offerings.
"I
think the law was ridiculous and I had a tremendous decline in the beginning," said
Giammersi. "Outdoor seating is a great option if you have the room. But we didn't. So
we had to make other adjustments."
Many smokers complain about having to leave
their tables to go and smoke. In Hallandale Beach, Anna Narewska, manager of Club Pearl,
said customers at the Russian dinner and show club had been used to eating, drinking and
having a smoke at the bar.
"It's difficult for my customers to stay without
smoking," Narewska said. "Most of my crowd is a European crowd. I get many, many
complaints. They are not comfortable going outside to smoke because they are missing the
music."
Back at Paolo's, a group of cigar smokers sit side-by-side at a long
table, puffing away as they celebrate a birthday. Richard Suave has his Winston Lights at
his fingertips as he waits for his meal. Suave, of Hollywood, said he prefers the intimate
atmosphere inside. But, because he likes to smoke after his meal, he now sits outdoors. He
blames fellow smokers for the ban.
"If all the smokers had gone out and voted,
the turnout would have been different," Suave said.
Charlie Frymyer, a
regular at Paolo's, said he usually has to step outside at least twice to smoke.
"I
was never a fan of the ban," said Frymyer, enjoying his fifth cigarette while dining
on Paolo's patio. "The good thing about having an outdoor option is that this is
Florida. And here, we love being outdoors."
Staff Writers Lori Sykes, Kathy
Bushouse and Beth Krane contributed to this report.
Georgia East can be reached at
[email protected] or 954-385-7921.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pssmoking15mar15,0,1887082.story?coll=sfla-news-palm