BonnerSprings.com

The atmosphere at Twisters Grill and Bar, 13100 Kansas Ave., is a typical one. Customers sit with drinks in hand, music blares, laughter and easy conversation is heard.

But since last week, a couple of modifications have been made: The ashtrays and billowing cigarette smoke are gone, and a “No Smoking” sign has been stamped to the front door.

Bar owners in Bonner Springs and Edwardsville say they aren’t happy with the changes that came as a result of a statewide smoking ban that went into effect July 1.

“Personally, I don’t think it’s fair for the state to come and tell us what we can and cannot do (with our business),” said Twisters co-owner Christie Chancey. “(It) doesn’t seem right, but we have to abide by the rules … We will comply with all the rules whether we like them or not, and just hope the customers understand that we don’t have a choice. We didn’t make that rule.”

Mike MacDonald, owner of Mac’s Place in Edwardsville, echoed Chancey’s sentiments, saying it wasn’t the state’s place to tell him whether he could allow smoking in his business or not. He added, however, that he also thought it was wrong for the state to place restrictions on a legal substance.

“As long as smoking is legal, I don’t believe it’s the state’s place to tell people where they can and can’t (smoke),” MacDonald said. “I think they should either make smoking illegal … or they should leave the issue alone completely.”

Several residents who regularly attend bars in the area say they agree wholeheartedly, even those who don’t smoke.

“Well, I think the government’s cheating themselves,” said John Elliot, a nonsmoker, said Tuesday at Kobi’s Bar and Grill. “Business cuts down because of no smoking, well, there goes the revenue tax. Who’s that hurting? It’s hurting the business, it’s also hurting the government. I also think it’s up to the business owner to have a smoking establishment or not.”

Kobi’s customer Richard White also said “it should be up to the establishment,” but there was at least one customer at Kobi’s who felt differently.

Tomi Kobialka, who was picking up a to-go order, said he thought not walking into a smoke-filled bar was just fine with him, and he added he thought the no smoking signs would mean more customers for businesses.

“I think it’s great,” Kobialka said. “Food tastes better … your clothes don’t stink, the atmosphere of people who don’t come (to Kobi’s) are coming now … I think it’ll bring a lot more business.”

MacDonald said his customers at Mac’s Place, however, were of the same mind as he.

“They’re telling people who have the perfect right to smoke where they can can’t smoke. And they’re doing it in my business,” he said. “It’s none of the state’s business whether I allow smoking in here, that’s my opinion. And it’s also the opinion of most of my customers.”

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