Sudden realization

Gonz

Gonz

Ultra Runner
Joined
Mar 18, 2005
Messages
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Location
St. Paul
As most of you know MN now has a statewide smoking ban, of which the details I'm not exactly certain, but I believe it's an indoor smoking ban excluding cigar shops and a few others.

So while visiting the local mall this afternoon I noticed an empty business, looks like it used to be a Tire shop or quick service oil change kind of place. Decent size showroom then a service bay with three very large garage doors (not a drive all the way through kind of place, only on one side of the building). Now tie this in with my fascination for fine architecture and moderate climates where people have taken large industrial looking garage doors and used them to invite the outdoors inside. (see where I'm going yet?)

Would it be possible to open a bar/lounge in this space, where the former service bay space is closed off from the rest of the place, and with the garage doors open could be considered outdoor space where I could skirt the anti-smoking freaks? Then the inside, former showroom would just be a regular lounge kind of place for the non-smokers?

Am I crazy here? Anyways, comment as you please...
 
In CT the 'canopy' that could be used has to be NOT attached to building - in order to have a smoking area....or some such thing.

Good luck!
 
This sounds like a grand idea, I know that there would be much loop hole'in to get around the smoke Nazis, but It sure sounds like it could be a great place to chill

Tim
 
I dunno man. I think it's a great idea, but the Nazi's are on a real bender at the moment. For most countries, the rule is that is has to be outside of the building. It is not good enough for massive doors to be open, because that is still considered inside with big doors, lol.


Still, check your states laws, and see if you can get away with it.
 
Directly from the "Freedom to Breathe Act" :rolleyes: :

"Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 144.413, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 1a. Indoor area. "Indoor area" means all space between a floor and a ceiling that is bounded by walls, doorways, or windows, whether open or closed, covering more than 50 percent of the combined surface area of the vertical planes constituting the perimeter of the area. A wall includes any retractable divider, garage door, or other physical barrier, whether temporary or permanent. A 0.011 gauge window screen with an 18 by 16 mesh count is not a wall."

It was a good idea, but I think the Powers That Be here in Minnesota are too sneaky to have not thought of ways around their idiocy.

Here's some quick and dirty info on the bill. CLICK HERE

Here's the bill itself. CLICK HERE
 
I say throw it against the wall & see if any of it sticks. Might find a loophole, considering those that wrote it are a bit loopy.
 
Smoking in bars has been banned in many places, not sure about MN. You have to derive a certain percentage (like 70 to 80%) of your sales from tobacco, to be able to smoke inside.

Keith

Mall rent will also kill you.
 
Gonz, I've gotta say I'm relieved. After reading your thread title, I half expected to see a picture of you sporting a banana hammock with a pair of Ray-Bans and a big, fluffy 'stache. :laugh:
 
Eshaw99 said:
Gonz, I've gotta say I'm relieved. After reading your thread title, I half expected to see a picture of you sporting a banana hammock with a pair of Ray-Bans and a big, fluffy 'stache. :laugh:
Click to expand...


Oh no, that pic is over in the "Useless pics thread"

Or maybe I can set it up and post it over there. I'll let you know.
 
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