Saturday, June 23, 2007
SHARON, Pa. — Geno Rossi used to see the same faces day after day at the bar he manages, Our Gang Lounge on Sharpsville Avenue — until Ohio banned smoking.
“There are a couple of [periods of the week] that are really dead and then we started getting people in. We figure they’re coming from Ohio,” Rossi said.
It’s all part of a phenomenon that some Pennsylvania barkeeps are seeing since Ohio authorities started to crack down on the smoking ban passed by voters. The ban prohibits smoking in most public places, including bars.
“Yeah, I’ve heard some people say they’ve come here because they can’t smoke in Ohio,” said John Brent, a bartender at Billy’s Black and Gold, also on Sharpsville Avenue.
The Ohio smokers tend to come over to the sports bar on weekends, he said.
Cathy Dubrasky, owner of the Golden Bear Tavern in West Middlesex, Pa., has been noticing new faces throughout the week, too.
For the complete story, see Sunday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.