“I hope it would bring in more (customers),” he said. “It’s a way of life, and it’s a good thing.”

Dale Walize, general manager of the Lewisburg Hotel, also on Market Street in Lewisburg, said banning smoking is a good thing, and his establishment went smoke-free on May 1.

He said since banning smoking in the building, customers have come to accept it, and it has worked out well.

“Part of the reason I did it is I knew the state was going to do something sooner or later,” Walize said. “I struggled with this the past few years. I am a smoker, too, but I felt it was in the best interest of the customers.”

Walize said since the ban has been in effect, several employees and customers have quit smoking, which he is in the process of doing as well.

Additionally, he said it makes things a lot easier, including cleaning. He said there is no longer yellow tar on the ceiling tiles, walls and television sets.

Overall, customers have come to accept the change in rules.

“I gave a six-week warning, and we got some grumbling,” he said. “We gave six weeks to get the barking out. No one was overbearing, it was like anything else. When laws change, those who grumble come to accept it. ... A handful said they would never come back, but we’ve seen them since. We’ve had a lot of encouragement from customers who thought it was great.”

Mulberry’s Restaurant in Danville also has been non-smoking since the bar was added three years ago.

“It’s gone very well,” said owner Matson Pierce. “We’ve had a very positive response. Of course, there is a certain segment of the population who won’t come because they can’t smoke, but in my opinion, (the business) more than makes up for that (with other customers).”

Pierce said he instituted the ban on smoking because he wanted the type of establishment where people could eat and enjoy a cocktail. He said he wanted people to feel comfortable bringing their kids along.

“I’ve had smokers tell me they prefer it this way,” he said. “They can step outside and have a cigarette, come back in and go home not smelling like they were rolling around in an ashtray.”

Despite his own smoking ban, Pierce said he is against the statewide ban.

“It’s unconstitutional to tell a business owner they cannot permit legal activity in their business,” he said. “Since I started the non-smoking, some (other businesses) have changed their policies. The marketplace dictates that, not the government.”

Another restaurant owner, Bob Snyder, agrees.