Smoking crisis...

[Larry Gude]

I went to Famous Dave's last night because I started thinking about Vrail brisket.

So, and she'll attest to this, Dave's WAS usually packed back in the days when you could actually light up sans government intervention and possible incarceration. Last night, I got there at 6pm. And, Vrail, I had 1/2 the bar to myself.

So, I'm eating, the baby backs were OK, the brisket SUCKED big time and I'm drinking my beer, looking around, checking out who is winning the electronic bar game and there is maybe 6 people at the bar and three tables filled.

Now, again, I'll let Vrail speak for what it used to be crowd wise, but, I asked Michelle, my pleasant bar keep, how business was since the smoking ban and she looks at me with a straight face and says it is MUCH better; that people who used to sit in the other side would now venture into the bar to watch the big screens and play the games.

The other side seemed pretty normal to me, crowd wise.

It seems pretty clear to me that the ban has got to be hurting business.

And for you psychotic anti's, Dave's has a freaking hermetically sealed bar.

Just an observation.

 

[kwillia]

she looks at me with a straight face and says it is MUCH better

It seems pretty clear to me that the ban has got to be hurting business.

Larry, how did you come to that conclusion when she's there more often than you and says, "MUCH better"...

 

[toppick08]

Larry, how did you come to that conclusion when she's there more often than you and says, "MUCH better"...

I think it was

 

[Larry Gude]

Because...

Larry, how did you come to that conclusion when she's there more often than you and says, "MUCH better"...

...I've been in there enough over the last 10 years to form a fairly solid opinion of what 'normal' is.

 

[Gwydion]

It seems pretty clear to me that the ban has got to be hurting business.

she looks at me with a straight face and says it is MUCH better; that people who used to sit in the other side would now venture into the bar to watch the big screens and play the games.

Didn't she say it had helped business? Or are you just pushing for a ?

 

[Gwydion]

...I've been in there enough over the last 10 years to form a fairly solid opinion of what 'normal' is.

Perhaps it was a slow day for the bar...it was a monday nite...

 

[Larry Gude]

She...

Didn't she say it had helped business? Or are you just pushing for a ?

...said, without sarcasm, that business was MUCH better. I looked around at a 3/4 empty bar that I am used to seeing 3/4 full any night of the week.

 

[CRoyal]

It seems pretty clear to me that the ban has got to be hurting business.


Just an observation.

Also keep in mind that money is tight for a lot of people right now.. People aren't going out as much, especially on a Monday night.

 

[vraiblonde]

that people who used to sit in the other side would now venture into the bar to watch the big screens and play the games.

She's probably right about that. Now that there is no adult haven in restaurants, people feel free to bring their squabs into the bar, so they can scream and act like #######s while other patrons are trying to Happy Hour.

I wouldn't notice whether the ban has hurt business or not because I don't really go out that much anymore. I'd be curious if there will be a revenue difference for 2008 vs. 2007.

 

[Cowgirl]

I'd think it's pretty normal for most places to be fairly empty on a Monday night. Most people go out on the weekends and stay home on Monday. :shrug:

 

[MMDad]

...I've been in there enough over the last 10 years to form a fairly solid opinion of what 'normal' is.

Did you take into account Monday being a slow evening for most restaurants? Were you comparing the crowd to the normal Friday/Saturday crowd?

 

[Pete]

...said, without sarcasm, that business was MUCH better. I looked around at a 3/4 empty bar that I am used to seeing 3/4 full any night of the week.

Ya think she might be reciting the company line?


I asked at our normal haunt and she said "It hasn't hurt at all really" yet I noticed the same thing. The place is practically deserted everytime I go.

 

[Larry Gude]

Is it...

She's probably right about that. Now that there is no adult haven in restaurants, people feel free to bring their squabs into the bar, so they can scream and act like #######s while other patrons are trying to Happy Hour.

I wouldn't notice whether the ban has hurt business or not because I don't really go out that much anymore. I'd be curious if there will be a revenue difference for 2008 vs. 2007.

...your memory that Dave's bar ever had an empty stool and at least 1/2 the tables not full? I think we went out on a few Monday's here and there.

 

[Gwydion]

...said, without sarcasm, that business was MUCH better. I looked around at a 3/4 empty bar that I am used to seeing 3/4 full any night of the week.

Slow nite was slow. Why don't you go there as much as the person that probably works there atleast 5 times a week and give us a full written up analysis of the patron activity.

I went to a bar last weekend and it was more crowded than I had ever seen it.

 

[vraiblonde]

Perhaps it was a slow day for the bar...it was a monday nite...

They have always been packed on any given night of the week, especially the bar because that's where the happy hour people go to play Trivia and drink after work. Larry shouldn't have even been able to get a seat at the bar.

 

[Larry Gude]

I think...

Slow nite was slow. Why don't you go there as much as the person that probably works there atleast 5 times a week and give us a full written up analysis of the patron activity.

I went to a bar last weekend and it was more crowded than I had ever seen it.

...you are a touchy smoke Nazi with a guilty conscience.

 

[vraiblonde]

I asked at our normal haunt and she said "It hasn't hurt at all really" yet I noticed the same thing. The place is practically deserted everytime I go.

She gave an excuse - it's winter, people are still poor from Christmas, etc. But last time we were in there, it was the same thing - easily half their regular Friday business.

 

[Gwydion]

They have always been packed on any given night of the week, especially the bar because that's where the happy hour people go to play Trivia and drink after work. Larry shouldn't have even been able to get a seat at the bar.

Once again, perhaps it was a slow nite at the bar...assessing the entire activity of a bar by one singular visit, then assuming it has something to do with the ban of smoking is asinine.

Perhaps it was a slow nite....or perhaps the fact that gas is pushing $4 a gallon has weened people off from spending nights out at happy hour blowing there money on beer that they could get for a fifth the price and drink in the comfort of their home.

 

[vraiblonde]

Slow nite was slow. Why don't you go there as much as the person that probably works there atleast 5 times a week and give us a full written up analysis of the patron activity.

I doubt anyone cares enough to go to the trouble. Lost revenue for someone else's business are none of my concern.

 

[Gwydion]

...you are a touchy smoke Nazi with a guilty conscience.

I think, you are attempting to reconcile with bringing up memories between you and Vrai.

:shrug:

I don't care at all if people smoke in bars or restaurants, especially, as you pointed out, at Dave's which has basically an entire sealed off room for the bar. I'm just saying don't be an idiot and assess something from one experience and attribute it to the smoking ban.