81 file for smoking-lounge permits; City to enforce tobacco ban on 88 sites that did not apply

10/24/2003
BY TOM TROY
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Eighty-one Toledo bars, bowling alleys, and restaurants met the Wednesday deadline to apply for building permits to install smoking lounges - fewer than half of those that said they planned to.

The rest have to put away the ashtrays.

Showing that it is getting firmer about enforcing the tobacco ban, the Ford administration yesterday said it would mail letters to establishments that claimed the 120-day exemption allowed by the law, but didn't apply for a building permit.

Wednesday's deadline was itself a 30-day extension of the original Sept. 22 deadline.

“We have 88 establishments that did not turn in plans, and did not seek a permit; so we're going to revoke their exemptions,” said Bill Franklin, Mayor Jack Ford's assistant chief operating officer. “We'll be sending out letters.”

So far, no owners or patrons have been cited for violating the ordinance, Ohio's most far-reaching smoking law.

A smoking lounge can be up to 30 percent of the serving area of a business, and must be separately ventilated and enclosed.

Another seven establishments whose contractor wrote the city taking the blame for missing the deadline are being given a one-week extension, Mr. Franklin said.

Twenty-one bars have applied to be exempted from the law altogether, citing a provision that allows variances in cases of economic need.

But Mr. Franklin said the variance rule is only for technical adjustments.

“We are going to evaluate those variances and then write them letters that deny them variances - most of them, if not all of them,” Mr. Franklin said. “They have no exemption any more. They need to be smoke-free.”

Bill Delaney, owner of Delaney's Lounge on Alexis Road, is one of those who requested a variance. He said his landlord does not want any changes made to the building and that's why he cannot afford it.

Several establishments were surprised yesterday to learn they were not on the list of continuing exemptions.

Manhattan's, at 1516 Adams St., and Easy Street Cafe, at 822 Washington St., said they have contractors working on changes in their buildings that will allow them to have separate smoking rooms.

“We've created an entrance in the back, and we've modified the entrance in front so we can keep the bar and smoking,” said Easy Street co-owner Jamie Church.

Hundreds of other restaurants and bars in Toledo already have complied with the smoking ban.

The ordinance that was approved unanimously by city council on July 8 and signed by Mayor Ford granted a 120-day exemption, until Dec. 22, to build a smoking lounge. The administration issued a rule saying the 120-day exemption would be available only to those who filed for a building permit.

Establishments that had applied for building permits as of Wednesday:

Amigo's Mexican Restaurant, 5327 Dorr St.

Anchor Inn, 4950 Suder Ave.

Andrea's Sports Pub, 3338 West Alexis Rd.

Arnie's Saloon, 3332 West Central Ave.

Augie's Nightclub, 938 West Laskey Rd.

Barbie's Place, 5025 Bennett Rd.

Bier Stube, 5333 Monroe St.

Blu Jeans Caf , 3606 West Central Ave.

Brad's Place, 5801 Telegraph Rd.

Brisket's Deli, 5801 Telegraph Rd.

Broadway Caf , 1919-1920 Broadway

Bronze Boar, 20 South Huron St.

Buster's Grill, 2704 Nebraska Ave.

Caesar's Show Bar, 725 Jefferson Ave.

Captain's Quarters, 4617 North Summit St.

Carmel's Mexican Restaurant, 2947 Tremainsville Rd.

Club Chablis, 5405 North Detroit Ave.

Club Escape, 343 New Towne Square

Comis Night Club, 1527 East Broadway

Coney Island Hotdog, Franklin Park Mall

Daffy's Thirsty Duck, 5134 Lewis Ave.

Ermie's, 1776 Arlington Ave.

Fritz & Alfredo's, 3025 North Summit St.

George's Place, 702 East Broadway

Glass Bowl Lanes, 5133 Telegraph Rd.

Ground Round, 5806 Telegraph Rd.

Gumbo's Bayou Grill, 18 Main St.

Happy Hour Saloon, 1519 Eleanor Ave.

Hooters, 4782 Monroe St.

Hooterville Station, 119 North Erie St.

Huron St. Night Club, 25 South Huron St.

Jake's Saloon, 2520 Dorr St.

Jalapeno's Restaurant & Cantina, 519 North Reynolds Rd.

Jed's Barbeque & Brew, 2531 South Reynolds Rd.

Jed's Barbeque & Brew, 35 East Alexis Rd.

Jerry & Ben's, 5357 North Detroit Ave.

Knotty Pine Caf , 5204 Lewis Ave.

Krieger's Pub, 2150 West Laskey Rd.

Laskey Lounge, 1515 Laskey Rd.

Last Chance Saloon, 457 Oak St.

Lido Lanes, 865 South Ave.

Live it Up, 1601 Central Ave.

Louie's (J.J.'s) Caf , 3922 Lagrange St.

Lucky Louie's, 2851 Tremainsville Rd.

Marted's Caf , 2853 Lagrange St.

Michael's Bar & Grill, 901 Monroe St.

Mickey Finn's Pub, 602 Lagrange St.

Mike's Perchhouse, 3335 Lagrange St.

Miracle Lanes, 5030 Jackman Rd.

Miss Cue-North, 216 Newtowne Square

Miss Cue-South, 1720 South Reynolds Rd.

Molly's Diner, 2430 West Laskey Rd.

Mona's, 841-843 Summit St.

Myler's, 5710 Telegraph Rd.

Navy Bistro, 30 Main St.

Nick & Jimmy's Bar, 4956 Monroe St.

Orchard Inn, 2804 West Sylvania Ave.

Panama J's, 2174 Broadway

Platinum Show Girls, 5801 Telegraph Rd..

Player's Club, 3440 West Sylvania Ave.

Ralphie's Family Sports Eatery, 5294 Monroe St.

Recovery Room, 2620 Airport Hwy.

Roby's Nite Club, 601 East Broadway

Rocky's Bar, 3301 West Central Ave.

Sally B's Tavern, 1534 Sylvania Ave.

Scarlett's, 5765 Telegraph Rd.

Secor Lanes, 5520 Secor Rd.

Ship & Shore Nite Club, 2660 Consaul St.

South End Grille, 5105 Glendale Ave.

Southwyck Lanes, 5255 Heatherdowns Blvd.

Star Diner, 3067 West Alexis Rd.

TGI Friday's, 1334 Bernath Pkwy.

The Distillery, 4311 Heatherdowns Blvd.

The Dog House, 4935 Lewis Ave.

The Lair Lounge, 3332 Glendale Ave.

Toledo Speedway Bar & Grill, 5625 Benore Rd.

Toledo's Sports Center, 1516 Starr Ave.

Toronado's Gentleman's Club, 715 Monroe St.

Tropics Lounge, 1583 Sylvania Ave.

Twin Oaks Lanes, 2816 West Sylvania Ave.

Westland Lanes, 4398 Monroe St.

Establishments that are being given a seven-day extension to apply for a building permit:

R-House, 5534 Secor Rd.

Jon's Fourth Season, 1925 Tremainsville Rd.

Ricco's, 5825 Jackman Rd.

Dolly & Joe's Restaurant, 1045 South Reynolds.

Doc Watson's, 1515 South Byrne Rd.

J Brown's Original Trotters Tavern, 5131 Heatherdowns.

Lil Sheba, 1380 West Alexis. Rd.

Source: Toledo office of building inspection