RICHMOND—
"Although health-wise, the law is good. For business owners - it's difficult."That's why Richmond City Council President Kathy Graziano wasn't surprised to learn that the owner of a restaurant in her district might be fighting the smoking ban and at the same time, keeping her business running.
A sign on the door of Liberty Valance Restaurant on Forest Hill Avenue clearly reads: "We still allow smoking. Enter at your own risk."
Liberty Valance is one of several restaurants who seem to oppose the law.
Some of the restaurants are posted on a Web site SmokeFreelyVa.com.
The Web site contains a list of restaurants whose owners have agreed to let the public know they can smoke at their own risk with the added reminder that smokers could be fined.
Last month, the owner of Caddy's in Midlothian vowed not to let the governor come between her and her business.
But now she's found a way to keep the majority of her customers happy and comply with the law.
In the back of the restaurant, she's built a non-smoking section consisting of a small room measuring 8 ft. x 7 ft which has a table, two chairs and an air freshener as a centerpiece.
