Alexandria Restaurants Snuffing Smoking

The last time Virginia lawmakers considered smoking restrictions was in 1990 when, after fierce disputes, they passed a law requiring larger restaurants to limit smoking to designated areas and banned smoking in elevators, cashier lines and emergency rooms.

Under the state constitution, local jurisdictions are prohibited from passing laws that are more restrictive than state law. That is why Alexandria's smoking ban is voluntary.

Many of the Alexandria restaurants that joined the campaign already had strict no-smoking policies in effect. Of the 60, only seven restaurants actually changed their smoking policies: Cafe Marianna, Charlie Chiang's, Hana Tokyo, Los Tios, Nickell's & Scheffler, the Starbucks on Union Street and Thai Old Town.

Some places, like Starbucks, used to allow smoking in the outdoor seating area. At Hana Tokyo on Duke Street, smokers were welcome in the bar only. Now, that will change.

"The main thing is that having a non-smoking restaurant is better for our customers' health," manager Yuping Wu said.

He said some regulars are unhappy when told they can no longer smoke in the lounge, and he worries that he will lose their business. But he's going ahead, anyway.

"We don't want to cook unhealthy food for the customers," he said. "And we don't want to provide an unpleasant environment. It's the same thing."

But over on King Street, the staff at Landini Brothers said they thought long and hard before deciding not to join the smoke-free campaign. They have smoke eaters and ionizers in the bar, where smoking is allowed. Only one of the restaurant's five dining rooms is designated for smoking.

"We've been here for 30 years and we have a core clientele that likes a little cigar after lunch or dinner or a cigarette at the bar. We listened to them, too," said owner Piero Landini. "I think we will try to satisfy everyone. That will be our position."

Last week, not far from Landini Brothers, Margo Heegeman stood outside under a portico to get out of the rain and took a last drag of a cigarette. She is in her sixties, has been smoking since she was 14 and said she's not about to stop. The smoking ban is inconvenient, she said.

"But 23 percent of the population smokes and the other 77 percent don't. So they win," she said with a shrug. "But I go to restaurants for the food, not to smoke."