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NNSL Photo

The Grapevine restaurant says it went belly-up last week because of Yellowknife's new smoking ban in restaurants. Cook Joanne Glenn, left, and owner Rhonda Merko, believe whether a business allows smoking should be up to the owner or landlord. - Erin Fletcher/NNSL photo

Restaurant says smoke ban forced it to close

Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 21/03) - Rhonda Merko has closed the Grapevine restaurant, located in the YK Centre Mall, because Yellowknife's smoking ban drove away most of her regular customers, she said.

When the smoking ban in restaurants came into affect on April 1, the majority of her regulars vanished and her sales plummeted.

Meanwhile, licensed bars and lounges -- where smoking is still allowed -- are benefiting from the ban, said Merko and Ryan's restaurant owner Pauline Ho.

Merko said the Royal Canadian Legion is opening earlier, catering to working customers who want a smoke with their coffee or breakfast during the week.

According to the sign on Legion door, it opens at 8:30 a.m. on weekdays.

But general manager Lorne Power said their hours haven't changed recently. He also hasn't noticed an increase in customers since the ban.

However, Ho said a sign at the lottery booth in Extra Foods indicates the Legion is trying to recruit smokers.

The sign advertises a coffee and toast special for only $2.50. Above a picture of a lit cigarette the ad reads: "Enjoy your morning cigarette without having to stand outside."

Grapevine hit hard

Merko said after the ban, more than half her customers didn't return and sales dropped by 30 to 40 per cent in April alone.

She figures May's figures will be worse.

Before the ban, customers would huddle in the 25 per cent of the restaurant's space designated for smokers.

Usually, the non-smoking section was almost empty.

Before, smokers stopped in for coffee, toast and a cigarette in the morning, and often returned for lunch.

"That's their lifestyle. They go to work and relieve their stress with their smoke and coffee."

She began to consider closing in April. Last Thursday, she woke up and decided to do it.

"I can't stay open and pull money out of my pocket or go further into debt because I don't have the customers.

Prior to this, the restaurant was never in the red, she said.

Ryan's restaurant is also suffering.

The restaurant used to be packed at lunch during the week. Now it's half full at best. Business is pretty much the same on weekends, she said.

"I'm still surviving, but I'm losing," said Ho. "My place, I've never seen it empty before. I've never had this experience."