Smoking ban affects business

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Bruce Adelman has owned Bohannon's East for over a decade, always with the idea that he would decide what he would and wouldn't allow.

"I always had signs on my doors from day one that said smoking is permitted in here," Bohannon's East Owner Bruce Adelman said.

However, since July 1, he and other business owners lost their say in the smoking debate.

Now, a new sign hangs outside Bohannon's.

"It's damaging. And you know some of us will survive and some of us won't," Adelman said.

According to Adelman, most of Bohannon's customers are smokers.

Because of that, he reported sales are down 20 to 25 percent.

"They just come in less regularly now, they don't stay as long and it is what it is," he said.

Businesses like Bohannon's are making moves to soften the blow by putting additional seating outside.

"It would help because my customers don't even have a place to sit down outside."

They said the ban has only generated three new non smoking customers.

"It's better for people that don't like to smoke, that's great, they can come in here now, where are they?" Bohannon's East Bartender Rachel Eads said.

A possible upside for employees? Eads said, she's cut back quite a bit from her smoking habits.

"For my health it is, for my mental stability not really," Eads said.

It's a healthier environment for employees and customers.

However, many business owners wonder if someone else's decision might mean a cloudy future.

Some local bars we spoke with said business hasn't changed for them.

Sonka's Irish Pub said its staff and most customers were in favor of it.

Their dinner sales are up.

For concerns or complaints about the Indiana smoking ban, click on this link .