Eau Claire Smoking Ban Kills Business

Yeah, but who cares, right?

A hint of smoke still lingered in two Eau Claire bars Tuesday night, but the workplace smoking ban that went into effect the same day caused stark differences in their numbers of customers.

At the 5 O’Clock Club, bar stools were nearly empty at a time they would normally be packed. And on the other side of town, workers at Northwoods Brew Pub hustled to take care of a busier-than-usual crowd, many of whom were involved in implementing the ordinance and had come to celebrate.

Some of the regulars, smokers and nonsmokers alike, were at the 5 O’Clock Club, 2240 Fenwick Ave., just a short distance from Altoona bars where smoking is allowed. But they wouldn’t go someplace else just because of the ordinance.