The smoking laws have been with us since December 7 of 2006. The enforcement of the smoking laws has only started in past two weeks. We have very mixed feelings about the smoking ban as a company. We are here to serve you, the customer, and not letting our customer’s smoke inside has proved to be an inconvenience, and hard on our business. For the first quarter of 2007 we were down 818 cases of just Bud Light!!!! To do the math for you that is almost a $50,000 decrease in sales in one beer alone! It has been tough, but as we begin to construct our new patios and have warm weather, it has brought some customers back in. April was our first sign of life in a slight increase in bar business.
For all the smoker’s out there, we apoligize for this massive, forced inconvenience. We appreciate your business and are trying to plan other ways to accomodate you.
While we may not agree with the smoking ban, the one positive outcome is a cleaner environment for our employees and patrons. We can only hope there will be some positive fall out from this in the medium and long term of the business.
In the mean time the down turn in business has presented us with some tough choices. We have had to scale back on employees while spending capital to make improvements to accomodate this new law. It is the first time in 11 years the Freeway has had a negative growth quarter, and we are adjusting as fast as we can.
I throw this out there to explain to everyone a large problem that you might not have known even existed. Many thought the smoking ban would be healthy for the business, but as for now it has negatively affected all us on the Freeway. Sometimes I get emails and calls asking “Why the heck would you do that?” This blog lets me reach more people and explain our reasoning. If you would like to email directly please do so at the address below. Be Safe, Enjoy the nice weather, and check out our ‘Smokin” new patio at Solon, soon to be at Parma, and then Wickliffe!
Cheers!
Glenn E. Gable
