When Michigan banned smoking in indoor businesses more than a year ago, Patrick Kent, owner of Blue Midnight Hookah Lounge, immediately saw his shop’s profits drop more than 15 percent.
But the tobacco-based portion of his business still was thriving.
Rather, Kent’s losses were more edible in nature: The new law outlawed the food service portion of his business, banning him from selling malts, wraps and smoothies in the same location as tobacco smoking.
He can’t even give customers glasses of water now because ice is considered a food under health department code.
Blue Midnight, 330 Albert Ave., only is allowed to sell sealed foods with no shelf life — basically anything a gas station can sell, he said.
But after a year’s time to acclimate, Kent said he has recovered some, but not all, of his lost profits.
“You either adapt or you go out of business,” Kent said. “It is what it is.”
Michigan’s Smoke-Free Air Law went into effect May 1, 2010, outlawing smoking in all businesses except for cigar bars and a small number of other authorized businesses.
To date, no East Lansing businesses have been issued a citation by police for illegally allowing smoking indoors, according to information obtained through the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.
Still, the ban has had mixed effects on business around the city, varying across different types of establishments.
Doug Curtis, assistant manger at Harper’s Restaurant & Brewpub, 131 Albert Ave., said the bar’s business has remained constant, although it wasn’t completely easy for them to adapt.
“Not really a drop in business — it’s pretty much the same,” Curtis said. “But definitely more complaints.”
At first, the bar tried ways to accommodate smokers, developing systems to allow smokers to leave and come back in.
“We tried marks on the hands, bracelets; nothing really seemed to work,” Curtis said, explaining that many customers tried to enter for free.
Prior to the ban, he said Harper’s was the only non-smoking bar in the city. But under the law, smoking still is not allowed on the bar’s large outdoor deck. Curtis said he receives a complaint about the ban every night as customers who leave to smoke must repay their cover charge to re-enter.
Still, he said the bar boomed the last couple business quarters.
“They’re not going to not go to the bar,” he said. “It’s East Lansing; it’s Michigan State.”
Joe Bell, owner of the Peanut Barrel, 521 E. Grand River Ave., said winter business dropped slightly this year as a result of customers not being able to smoke inside.
Still, he said his profits have been balanced by the current spike in summer business.
“I’m sure there are those who don’t like it,” Bell said. “But they seldom come to me with that complaint.”
Even businesses not directly related have felt at least small impacts.
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Brian McIsaac, manger at Conrad’s College Town Grill, 101 E. Grand River Ave., said cigarette sales have increased slightly since the ban went into effect as customers are smoking outside close to the establishment.
“I’d say not significantly, but it’s definitely increased,” McIsaac said.
Conrad’s sells cigarettes at a flat $7 rate, after taxes, in order to make the purchase convenient for bar customers.
Curtis said the ban has not stopped some customers from trying to light up inside.
“It hasn’t stopped people — I still catch people all the time,” he said.
