From the Las Vegas Business Press:
New Year 2007 isn’t starting on such a happy note for bars and taverns forced to choose between smoking and selling food. Many are opting to let their customers light up, shutting down their kitchens and laying off staff as the Southern Nevada Health District gets ready to enforce the Clean Indoor Air Act (aka Question 5).
Kilroy’s is closing its kitchen on Jan. 13 and cutting about 25 jobs. Another 30 employees have voluntarily left the Inn Zone’s five restaurants after being told their days on the job were numbered, according to Inn Zone owner Mike Jacobi. Three Inn Zone kitchens closed New Year’s Day.
Jacobi expects the number of employees losing their jobs to reach 40 or 50 when the last two Inn Zone bar-restaurants serve their final meal sometime this month. “Employees have left to find other work,” said Jacobi, who co-owns the taverns with his father, Jake. “It’s hard to find people to take jobs that won’t be there in two or three weeks.” [...]
Kilroy’s, a bar-restaurant that was once known for what the Food Network called the “best hamburger in Las Vegas,” will miss out on some business, especially from tourists seeking the famous burger. Kilroy’s first opened in 1991 and now has two locations. The employees were given their notices Thursday — three days after Christmas.
Co-owner Paul Lampi said the decision was made because most of his gambling customers are smokers, so he would have lost more money eliminating smoking than by cutting out food service: “Even though I do about a million (dollars) in food (sales), I am lucky if I make even a six or seven percent (margin) on it.”
I’ll miss having a burger at Kilroy’s. Whenever I dined there with friends, the dining section was mostly non-smoking, as smokers lit up in the bar. Both locations were well-ventlilated, too.
Sadly, businesses are now forced to make a decision concerning the bottom line. For most Vegas bars and taverns, drinking and gambling are the big moneymakers; the kitchens serve as a value-added option for those who want to eat without leaving to go someplace else.
As a non-smoker, I’m all for clean air. Although I’m personally not fond of smoke-filled rooms, I have the freedom to choose non-smoking venues. With the implentation of the statist Clean Indoor Air Act (which was touted as being “for the children”), tavern owners are more or less being told how to run their businesses (where no one under 21 is allowed), as their freedom to choose is being taken away. Also, smokers are being singled out for choosing to light up (which is the real motivation behind anti-smoking laws, as militant anti-smokers seek to force their views upon others through legislation).
What’s next? A ban on liquor and gaming licenses for bars that allow smoking?
In the meantime, anybody interested in a last hurrah of burgers and fries at Kilroy’s this weekend (in the non-smoking section)? Drop me a line.
Update (1/10): I just confirmed that Kilroy’s is keeping their kitchens at both locations open until further notice as the debate over the smoking ban continues. It looks like the nannies haven’t won yet!
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