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First Smoking Ban Casuality

  • Nov. 18th, 2005 at 10:23 AM
[info]khandro
Well, I just found out that Lovejoy's is closing their doors in March because of the loss of business due to the smoking ban. One of the coolest bars in Austin is going down. They made thier own beer and it is good. I think I will have to raise a few pints there. So long, good friend.

EDIT: For those that doubt my veracity; http://www.statesman.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/friday/metro_state_34d7a8ebb4a2806500ba.html

Comments

( Leave a comment )
[info]egosumquisum wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 04:28 pm (UTC)
I've heard this nasty rumor before many times, but its always been not true. On what authority do you have this information?
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[info]flicka23 wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 04:55 pm (UTC)
unfortunately, this rumor is very true. i've heard it from the owner directly.
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[info]marillion wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 04:28 pm (UTC)
How/where did you hear this? This place is my boyfriend's favourite brewery in Austin. So sad!
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[info]mtb0001 wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 04:44 pm (UTC)
>Owner Joseph Tait said that he has seen a 15 percent to 20 percent drop in business since the ban and that he plans to close the bar by the end of March.

Interesting -- so he's planning to squeak through another SXSW.
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[info]khandro wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 04:47 pm (UTC)
Or maybe he has a lease that he would have to pay anyways. Or maybe he is giving his employees a chance to find other jobs. I hear that they are tight over there.
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(no subject) - [info]neurot - Nov. 18th, 2005 07:11 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]eliset wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 04:49 pm (UTC)
Pfft. I was there last Saturday and it was packed. Didn't seem to be suffering too much to me.
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[info]khandro wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 04:51 pm (UTC)
Right and Saturday is the only night they are open and one night pays all the bills.
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[info]sassyashley wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 04:52 pm (UTC)
Saturdays are always busy.
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[info]boodot wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 04:56 pm (UTC)
all i know is that i'm not looking forward to hanging outside in this weather with my cold beer just to have a smoke. i know too many people that aren't frequenting their local hangouts for the same reason.
BOO! smoking ban!
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[info]doinky wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 04:59 pm (UTC)
Every closing bar will blame the ban
For the next year or two, every bar that closes will blame the smoking ban. Might be true, might not be true. Bars close all the time around here. But don't take their word for it - they're every bit as biased as the smoking ban guys are.
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[info]khandro wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 05:06 pm (UTC)
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban
Yep, except you are talking about a bar that has been around for 10-15 years, has had a steady base cliental and doen well over the years. This is not a bar that opened its doors two or three years ago and is not shutting, nor is it a bar that just opened in the past year. Lovejoy's has been a staple of the Austin nightlife for a long while now.
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Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]marillion - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:11 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]cheebah - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:32 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]marillion - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:36 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]cheebah - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:37 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]team503 - Nov. 18th, 2005 08:29 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]marillion - Nov. 18th, 2005 09:17 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]team503 - Nov. 18th, 2005 10:20 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]khandro - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:41 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]marillion - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:55 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]iamgene - Nov. 18th, 2005 06:22 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]stealthpup - Nov. 18th, 2005 09:02 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]doinky - Nov. 18th, 2005 06:21 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]neurot - Nov. 18th, 2005 07:14 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]khandro - Nov. 18th, 2005 08:37 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]doinky - Nov. 18th, 2005 09:01 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]reanimated - Nov. 18th, 2005 07:19 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]brandileigh - Nov. 18th, 2005 06:07 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]wickedhailey - Nov. 18th, 2005 06:41 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]doinky - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:17 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]cheebah - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:33 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]jazz007 - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:25 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]flicka23 wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 05:06 pm (UTC)
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban
i'm a huge fan and friend of lovejoy's, but i do find it a bit iffy that they soley blame the smoking ban on the decline of sales. they fail to mention that they raised their beer prices quite a bit as soon as the ban went into effect. in addition, the quaility of their house beers (which i've always been a huge fan of) has been inconsistent the last few months (another story in itself).
i'm sure there is a lot more to it, but i am extremely sad to see my favorite watering hole close. personally, i don't think it's all about the smoking ban. just a bunch of bad things gone awry at once.
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[info]stealthpup wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 06:04 pm (UTC)
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban
The news I heard this morning on NPR (well, OK, KUT's Austin news spotlight during NPR) stated that club attendence had remained unchanged since the smoking ban.

Lovejoy's appears to be a counterpoint.
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Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]iamgene - Nov. 18th, 2005 06:24 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Every closing bar will blame the ban - [info]stealthpup - Nov. 18th, 2005 06:28 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]upaya wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 05:08 pm (UTC)
The funny thing is, people still smoke in Loveoys. There are ash trays on the tables and people lit up everywhere.
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[info]cheebah wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 05:31 pm (UTC)
Yeah, a lot of bars are like that.
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[info]modmonsterparty wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 05:26 pm (UTC)
oh no, one less bar in austin.
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[info]khandro wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 05:42 pm (UTC)
Hold it a second, one less of the actually good bars in Austin. Now if all the shot bars closed, I doubt anyone would cry but Lovejoy's rocked.
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(no subject) - [info]modmonsterparty - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:46 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]iamgene - Nov. 18th, 2005 06:24 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]egoiste wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 05:33 pm (UTC)
I dont understand why, if health was the issue for this smoking ban in bars....why are noise levels not? I think loud rock concerts and music in the bars is harmful too. Let's ban loud music.
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[info]marillion wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 05:38 pm (UTC)
When noise is too loud, you can always wear ear plugs and still go and enjoy the place. I wear earplugs to most concerts because I don't like being deaf afterwards.

You couldn't do anything to avoid the smoke.
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(no subject) - [info]egoiste - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:39 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]marillion - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:48 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]egoiste - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:50 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]spiffie - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:58 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]gudpackage - Nov. 18th, 2005 07:45 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]team503 - Nov. 18th, 2005 08:34 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]spiffie - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:43 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]marillion - Nov. 18th, 2005 05:48 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]chasing - Nov. 18th, 2005 08:16 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]rebecca_yorke wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 06:02 pm (UTC)
hey Non-Smokers....do you eat whoppers?!
SERIOUSLY! A health thing?!?!?!?!?! What about car exhaust, chemicals in your food, plastics, tephlon, and just about every product we use these days? Alcohol is one of the leading causes of death in this country! So is HEART DISEASE, but you don't see them raking McDonald's over the coals (or that burger place that actually made a sandwich called the "MeatNormous!". SERIOUSLY?! Health risk?????? F-THAT!

Lovejoys ROCKS! I go there still...I heard it from the horses mouth on Tuesday (and go stand outside...yes it sucks...you leave your beer inside and last time this lady almost accosted me).

Also...NO people aren't really smoking inside anymore and they DO NOT have ashtrays on the tables! Trying to get them in trouble? they already are...THEY'RE CLOSING!
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Re: hey Non-Smokers....do you eat whoppers?! - [info]spiffie - Nov. 18th, 2005 06:08 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]vince420 wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 06:39 pm (UTC)
We need more laws to protect the genetically inferior. Then, one day, we'll all be retarded, blind, albino asthmatics with attention deficit disorder and drug companies will rule the world.
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[info]gothiksiren wrote:
Nov. 18th, 2005 06:51 pm (UTC)
You know what I find annoying and upsetting...small children!!

Really, could we ban small children from restaurants and movie theaters?? The screaming stresses me out and gives me indigestion. I could get sick from this damn it!!

I didn't have children, why should I have to be exposed to the stress and fatigue that other people's children cause me. It's just not fair!

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(no subject) - [info]chickenmoon - Nov. 18th, 2005 07:36 pm (UTC) Expand