Oracle Online

Some are blasting bar owners for even bringing this issue to the ballot, touting concerns that we’ll next elect a movie-star to be governator. Others say that they don’t really care if the issue is on the ballot as they do not expect it to be repealed.

Some St. Paul bar owners claim that they have seen more business since the smoking ban was enacted in Minneapolis and are afraid of customers will once again follow the smoke - this time into the suburbs.

In the Midway, concerns are a bit lessened as both The Turf Club and Big V’s offer live music. “Yes, [the ban] is unfortunate,” said Joe Holland, who does the booking for Big V’s on University and Snelling. “I think that the shows we put on at Big V’s are more dependent on the bands. If the bands are good, the bars will have a good amount of people.”

The Midway area has sustained a music scene that is distinct among the larger Twin Cities music scene with bands such as Malachi Constant and Hockey Night playing their largest shows at either Big V’s or The Turf Club.

The consensus is that the bands who play at the bars in St. Paul aren’t going to migrate, and neither are their crowds.
Holland is more concerned with artists getting the short end of the stick. “The most unfortunate thing I see [with the smoking ban in Minneapolis] is bands getting ignored,” said Holland. “People put on their coats during a set and go outside. It looks like they’re leaving.”

Most think that the effects of the ban will not be felt until next year when winter hits hard again. If it is still in effect by then, that is.

While the smoking ban has it’s obvious negative impacts on local musicians, some don’t mind the absence of the second-hand cancer. “Going to shows where I don’t come home smelling like eau de cigarette is nice,” said Big V’s patron Eric Hoffman. “I’ll like it when the smoking ban comes to St. Paul.”
Overall, public sentiments are that the initiative will fail, even if it is allowed on the ballot in November.

City council members see the issue as dead, and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has even pledged to cross the river support with support for the ban. Bar owners and patrons, however, have not put their ashtrays or petitions away just yet.