"I tell you it is the best thing I have ever done," he said. "Customers look for me and thank me. My business has not suffered at all, and my wife loves it. I go home, hang up my jacket, and it does not smell like an ashtray at all."
What stopped him from doing it before the law was passed? There was no existing law that said he had to allow smoking. He figured it would hurt business and waited until the NJ Politburo came him cover. That way he could blame them if he got in trouble, or thump his chest over what he did if it worked.
You just posted exactly what I was thinking. Why did the jerk need government intervention? It's business owners like this that I hope have to fold up their tents!
An aside: Wouldn't it be interesting to do a follow-up on Mr. Zambas and his Clinton Station Diner six month and/or a year from now?
Z'actly!
there are several of us that use to frequent the clinton station diner b/c it was convenient and close to where we lived, we use to go down in the evening after a long working day to relax at the bar with a glass of wine or beer and have a smoke (not all of us). that amenity to us has been taken away by the owner long before the ban went into effect. i personally did not see it being an issue or nuisance, maybe the restaurant should of had the bar in a better spot w/ better ventilation or whatever to buffer the non-smokers? we no longer go to the diner anymore, we head into the free state of Pa and the fact that the food is not that great either at the diner, this was the straw that broke the camels back.
jersey is becoming a follow the leader state, along w/ rediculous proposed tax laws, a huge deficit, and the quality of life has deteriorated along with choice and freedom - to much regulation, housing and property taxes, and to much traffic. that's what should be regulated. leave the poor smoker alone, the new law went to far, there is NO compromise and it is discrimanatory and it WILL financially hurt some small bar owners, that's a fact. i support "leave it up to the business to decide" as has done the Clinton station diner but i don't support the state imposing such law since it is oppressing and unconstitutional to all of us. there are bigger problems in this world that we need to worry about.
the funny thing is, i don't even smoke!!!