Making the decision
S.C. Dixon, Emporia Tavern Owner
Saturday, April 4, 2009
FROM THE beginning, we
thought that the whole smoking ban
issue was one of choice. We didn’t
understand that it apparently was
only about what others thought our
choice should be.
Frankly, we’re nonplussed at this
melodramatic indignation at our decision
to go smoke-free at “The Noose,”
I don’t understand it because I told every
major player, long, long ago, that if
we were able to push back the original
ban and force it to a vote (where people
could make their own decisions) that
we would go smoke-free inside the club
on March 3.
Apparently the other concerned
parties either weren’t listening or they
didn’t want to hear it in the first place,
but however they feel about it, I’m perplexed
at those who say that they were
shocked or blindsided by our choice.
March 3 was not an arbitrary date,
we chose it to make the statement that,
although the forced ban had failed, we
could make decisions for ourselves
without outside intervention or pressure.
Apparently, the “statement” was
a bit too subtle for some folks to wrap
their minds around. I think it’s too bad
that some who know better are doing
nothing to correct the misinformation
that we just suddenly “knuckled under.”
That’s baloney. I have fought an arbitrary
intervention of government into
private business for
A lot of people have argued against
this ban because of economic realities.
Here are few realities that our critics
perhaps do not know or, again, have
somehow forgotten:
The First Reason: We are not a sole
proprietorship, we are a limited-liability
company. And at the time we had three
members making decisions. We had
talked about being a smoke-free bar literally
since the first day we sat down
together. We reviewed our position on
a regular basis. Then, seemingly out the
blue, talk of a ban came up and we decided
to fight it, on the principal that as
the people who sign the checks, it was
our decision to make.
The Second Reason: We do not own
our building, we lease it. The importance
of this should be obvious but, if
not, the third reason should clarify the
significance.
The Third Reason: We regularly
feature live entertainment and we
were losing clientele on band nights
because one often could hardly see
across the bar for the smoke. People
were leaving and telling us why they
were leaving — because they couldn’t
breathe. Our ventilation system was
inadequate for the size of crowds we
were drawing.
We were faced with a choice in February
to either invest thousands of dollars
to replace our ventilation system,
in a building we do not own, or to go
smoke-free inside the bar and provide a
designated smoking area outside.
To spell this out, we had the choice
to invest a lot of money in someone
else’s building all the while knowing
that in a matter of weeks a vote was going
to take place and that a smoking ban
might be enacted after all.
Hopefully everyone involved in this
issue has enough business savvy to
know where that decision was going.
To paraphrase Darwin, “Adapt, or die.”
If the ban is voted down, which we’ve
hoped for and fought for all along, great.
But if our business continues to grow as
a nonsmoking nightclub, that is how it
will stay.
(By the way, we have signs posted
throughout our establishment advising
folks to vote and to vote against the
smoking ban.)
If the ban is voted down and our revenues
drop, we will reconsider our position.
We won’t feel sad, or ashamed if
time proves us wrong. We will change.
It’s business.
If the ban passes (and make no mistake,
we certainly hope it doesn’t) we’re
already in position as a non-smoking
venue.
Simple business decisions: proactive
observation, linear thinking, anticipatory
speculation, calculating the odds,
nothing more.
I know some people are simply
thrilled with our choice to move smoking
out back and I know that others
are not. We’re not at all clear as to why
those who are not cannot be content to
live and let live. We’re not the villains
here; there is no better champion for
the rights of business owners anywhere
in Emporia.
tbluma (anonymous) says...
Geeez S.C. where are all of your opponents at.
Well said.
April 4, 2009 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smith_ron (anonymous) says...
Well said, SC. However, who will champion your customers?
April 4, 2009 at 1:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Dido1969 (anonymous) says...
Hallelujah...it is ABOUT THE CHOICE...and a business' right to make the choice as they see the marketplace. God bless America.
April 4, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
smith_ron:
"However, who will champion your customers?"
If adults who patronize a bar need someone to "champion" their cause or vocalize their feelings, perhaps they should hire a nanny or nursemaid. Most adults have the stones to champion their own causes.
Mr. Smith, has it come to that in our nation? Are we now so weak as individuals, and so dependent on our bloated dysfunctional government, that we can no longer make our own decisions? Must we rely on a "champion", some elitist special interest group (CAE), or big brother to make our simplest decisions for us?
Geez, I hope not. I, for one, prefer to make my own decisions, fight my own battles, and live my own life.
I have already voted NO on the radically restrictive smoking ban. I would hope that any citizen with a backbone and appreciation for individual rights and freedoms will do the same.
April 4, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
djdiablo (anonymous) says...
I was surprised to see this printed, I wrote it almost a month ago. Nothing wrong with that, and it seems a bit of it was excised in the web version, possibly accidentally, but its fine and I stand behind every word of it.
I hope that everyone clearly understands my reasons for writing it…this has become a personal issue for many, many people. In three decades of running a business here I cannot remember such a contentious topic, from both sides.
At the time I wrote this article I was nonplussed at the reaction that we were getting from close friends and former regulars that we had somehow, strangely, “sold out.”
Making a decision to run one’s own company as one thinks best suits it is not “selling out.” It is, rather, making a commitment to do the right thing, the American thing, as we see it, and to follow through with steadfastness. Some of our regulars have not come back. So be it. That is their choice in this nation that, hitherto at least, allows free decision(s).
The important thing, as stated, is that the thief-in-the-night approach of the original ordinance, the instructions to the commission by an arbitrary group to pass it, pass it fast, and pass it without abridgement, was shameful, pure and simple.
This issue should actually of course be decided by the actual business owner, but the next best thing and---with this scenario the only fair thing---is to let the people speak. Do so. Tuesday. Those of you who are fortunate enough to be “allowed” to vote, make do excuses, do it.
It is sad that so many people have become so emotional about a business issue…from the owners side I can empathize perfectly, it is they who have invested their own sweat and money and who have fought intervention every step of the way.
As for myself, I'm done with it. I am not allowed to vote in the election because of where I live, although I recently had to get a city permit to re-roof my house, I pay taxes in the city, I own two businesses in the city, the powers-that-be have judged I am not qualified to express my opinion via the ballot. I have tried to speak fairly and honestly for some of you. Return the favor by voting.
This little battle has cost a lot of us dearly…friends, treasure, faith in the future of their community. After over 30 years of creating memories for Emporian’s, my photography studio is suffering because people cannot separate my passion of my politics from my skill as a portrait artist. Alright. As crusaders that was the choice we made. So be it.
But we have achieved what I and many others have fought long and hard for…that is the opportunity for this to go to a ballot to be decided by the people. Alright, people.
Your turn.
S. C. Dixon
April 4, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
S.C.--
Great article! My question to you...
Bobbi Sauder stood in front of the City Commission and said she couldn't wait for the smoking ban so she could go to The Noose and could enjoy the live music in a non-smoking environment. How many times has she been in your establishment?
Matt (who already knows the answer)
April 4, 2009 at 4:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Matt, You couldn't possibly know the answer as you haven't been in the NOOSE every hour of every day.
Please let S.C. answer, if he cares to?
Steve
April 4, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
djdiablo (anonymous) says...
In all fairness I'm not down there all the time either, but so far I have not seen them, nor has anyone, friends or staff, told me that anyone from CAE had been in, and I'm sure that they would have let me know had it been the case.
My band played Friday and we (finally) had an impressive crowd, but I personally did not see anyone from CAE.
When all this came up, I heard from a lot of people, in fact including family members, who assured me that they would be regular fixtures if we would go smoke free. The sad truth is it ain’t been a happenin’ thang, folks…
(Several cliché’s spring immediately to mind: conspicuous in their absence, staying away in droves, etc.)
I have been more inspired by our smokers, some new faces and a very few of our old crowd who have returned to the fold, who step up to the plate and admit that they don’t mind popping outside for a smoke, in fact some have actually said that they prefer it. Of course we’re lucky enough to have had the space to build a covered designated smoking area while other venues, like the Town Royal don’t have that option, which hardly seems fair.
But in our case, however we look at it, it still boils down to “choice,” which I believe is a wonderful thing. Good bad or indifferent, WE made the decision and if it succeeds we will take the credit, if it fails we will take the blame. CAE had nothing to do with it, which, in a democratic republic, is how it should be.
Vote “NO” on Tuesday.
S. C. Dixon
April 5, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
Thanks for clearing that up, S.C.
April 5, 2009 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ProfessorRichards (anonymous) says...
Business owners should indeed be allowed to make the decision for smoking or nonsmoking themselves. Word of caution though--if the whole town is forced to go nonsmoking, Dixon's position as a non-smoking venue will no longer be unique, and business will likely suffer.
April 5, 2009 at 10:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
77flint (anonymous) says...
Steve "The Wise" has spoken.
and YY4U is still play with quote book he got for X-mas!!
April 6, 2009 at 8:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )