Nearly three years later, business owners are surprised by customers' reactions to the smoking ban. A study out Friday shows the ban made no difference in food sales at restaurants in Kansas.
The Kansas Health Institute compared sales from the years since the ban, to sales before, and found no negative influence. In the eight years before, food and liquor sales increased steadily each year and that trend stayed the same after.
When the owner of the Town and Country diner in Wichita put a no smoking sign on the door, he thought it would kill business. But it actually brought more people in. Business boomed so much after the ban, the owner credits it for rescuing the restaurant from a drowning economy.
"It just brought in so many more people," said Natasha Baker, the owner's daughter said.
The smokers were resistant, but the people who were not coming in here because of the smoke just started pouring in. I think it really did save us." Many customers feel it is also saving lives.
