I hope New Jersey passes their law.. It would be nice to enjoy a cold beer without smelling like an ash try -Mark
-----Original Message----- From: Gail Defendorf <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Mar 18, 2005 12:20 PM To: "'[email protected]'" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [UC] No Smoking Bill, White Dog & Abbraccio I have a problem with the logic that the White Dog has to permit smoking because the other establishments nearby allow smoking. And I have a problem with the assumption (not proven) that if the White Dog went completely non-smoking, that they'd lose customers. As a life-long non-smoker, I can tell Naomi that I *don't* frequent establishments that allow smoking. If I know a place is non-smoking, it gets my business. Heck, I really enjoy going to Delaware (the state, not the street) and going into a bar/restaurant and plonking down my cash because I *know* that I'm not going to smell like death afterwards. And the crap about treating your workers better, even though they have to work around second-hand smoke is simply that: crap. If the White Dog was the Progressive Restaurant it thinks it is, it should have banned smoking years ago. gail Jonathan Cass wrote: > Hmm -- I don't mean to be harsh Naomi, but that sounds like a big fat > justification to me: "Hey, we treat our staff better than most other > restaurants so it is okay that we subject them to a known carcinogen." > > The White Dog permitting smoking is akin to a pharmacy selling cigarettes. > > Jonathan A. Cass > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Naomi > Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 10:24 AM > To: Vincent/Roger; [email protected] > Subject: [UC] No Smoking Bill, White Dog & Abbraccio > > Vincent is right, we are not 100% non-smoking. But Abbraccio and > the White Dog, although we are only 1 mile apart, have very > different surroundings as far as competition and customer base. > > As we are located in the heart of the campus and surrounded by 3 > other bars that all offer smoking all the time at their bars, we > agonized over the decision to go smoke-free for years before we > finally came to a compromise decision a year ago. This decision > came from many discussions with our bar staff, wait staff that > works in the main bar and seasonal patio area, and our customers. > We decided to ban all smoking except for in our main bar from 10pm > - 2am and on the seasonal patio. (We have never allowed smoking in > the restaurant or at our piano bar.) Our late night customers > threatened to go elsewhere if smoking was banned entirely and our > staff (many of whom are non-smokers) were worried that, without > customers, their incomes would be drastically reduced. Our late > night crowd is mostly graduate students, hospital staff and > neighbors - many of whom smoke. With 3 other bars offering smoking > on our block, we felt that we couldn't completely go smoke free > without seriously hurting business - and our staffs' income. The > partial smoke-free decision did hurt financially us, but we felt > that the calculated loss was for the best for our employees' > health and for the well being of our customers. > > Prior to this decision, we extensively looked into ventilation > systems that would draft the smoke out of the room more quickly > but being in a very old building that has already been retrofitted > for kitchen equipment, we didn't have many options. So we use the > hood over the grill station to vent it out and have the incoming > air positioned to bring in fresh air as quickly as possible. We > also, whenever possible, offer additional seating away from the > main bar for those that don't want to be near the second-hand smoke. > > We really wanted to see this bill go through so that all the bars > were on an even playing field - we even sent one of our employees > to testify an the council hearings for this bill. It was really > difficult for us and for our employees to have to choose between > physically healthy and financially healthy decisions. Elizabeth is > right, we do have a choice. We could go completely smoke free on > principal and hurt the financial balance of the restaurant and > hurt our employees financial well-being (which they have told us > they can not afford), or we could compromise and allow smoking in > 1 of our eight dining rooms for 4 hours a day. > > I think making sure the White Dog is here next year and that our > employees can support themselves is worth a small compromise. We > support 100+ employees with a living wage (starting at a min. > $8/hr - instead of minimum wage - $5.??/hr). We offer healthcare > and dental insurance, a retirement plan, an emergency sunshine > fund, free bank checking plan, help with their taxes, an > interest-free computer loan program, reimbursement for smoking > cessation programs (their choice), a workplace giving fund and, of > course discounted and free food (that's sustainable, local and > fresh), drinks and admission to our events - including > international travel with our sister restaurant program. Our staff > is treated better than most restaurants and we always keep their > best interests at heart when making decisions. Keeping the > business financially viable is in the best interest of all 100 > employees, not just the folks working late night who want the big > tipping smokers to sit at our bar. > > Anyone who has been in the restaurant business can understand that > there is a lot more to running a restaurant than just the food. > It's a delicate balance with a small profit margin. This bill > would have helped put everyone on the same playing field and we > will support it when it is reintroduced. > > Naomi > > > on 3/17/05 10:41 PM, Vincent/Roger at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >>> If you have a list of nonsmoking restaurants and bars, pass > it on. >>> Please. I need some places to eat. > > I'm writing in response to the many postings regarding the > non-smoking ban. > As someone who this directly affects, I think I have a right > to speak about > it. Unlike even The White Dog(!), Abbraccio is a totally > non-smoking > restaurant on the interior, altho we do allow and try to > accommodate smokers > on the outside porch (we even operate portable outdoor heaters > in cool > weather.). As a businessman who has invested over a million > dollars in > trying to better the neighborhood I want to be accommodating > to ALL of my > potential customers. > > > > We are non-smoking inside because we made the conscious > decision to be > family-friendly. Yet, I can't afford to alienate all others > individuals. > Do any of you know that Nutter's bill includes a codicle that > there must be > no smoking within 16' of the building (thus no smoking on our > porch either, > if the bill is passed)? > > > > Knowing the importance of all of this I have avidly followed > reports that > California legislation regarding smoking seems to work because > warm weather > and the availability of smoking on outdoor terraces, while in > New York > compliance is only face value. If there can't even be outside > smoking, what > then will be the compliance and what is the cost of trying to > identify > compliance with these issues? > > > > I smoked for way too many years and don't anymore, but I don't > think we > should hatchet people that may need to; where do we look to > alternatives and > allowances? > > > > The restaurant industry is already saddled with a bogus city > drink tax to > supposedly supports the school system (if it really was > collected properly > it would cover 10% of the school costs) and now no-smoking-- > make these > issues state-wide so at least we have a fair advantage over > the restaurants > across the city line which also were cheaper built as a result > of the unions > (but don't get me started on that again!). > > > > Anyway come to Abbraccio: smoke free indoors (except for the > wood burning > fireplace)- at least for now you can smoke on the porch (which > I think > allows options) and help build up my bar business (which > without smoking is > hard to do!) We love this neighborhood and city but sometimes > feel that > restrictions are hard on business, business that the city > should be > promoting! > > > > Vincent Whittacre > > Abbraccio Restaurant > > > > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive > information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > > > > White Dog Cafe > 3420 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 > http://www.whitedog.com > (215) 386-9224 x105 > > The Black Cat Gift Shop > 3426 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 > http://www.blackcatshop.com > ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. Need someone to watch your pet while you are away? Call UC Pet Tenders: Walking, feeding during lunch, vacations, or late evenings. 215 990 6254 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Experienced!!! 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