Marvelanes Sees Increase In Business From Anti-Smoking Law

Marvelanes Sees Increase In Business 
From Anti-Smoking Law

UPDATE: LANSING - East Lansing's Marvelanes Bowling Alley has seen a rise in business. And, where many customers and skeptics of the anti-smoking law believed business would drop, manager Julia Dennings says it didn't.

"I lost no league bowlers, which a lot of people had said would happen, but it didn't," Dennings said. "They said that alcohol sales would go down. But it didn't."

Then there are some bowlers who are just frustrated with the law.

"I don't like going out in the cold and smoking a cigarette," Larry Grissom said. Larry and his brother Derek have been bowling for around seven years.

Derek has a different opinion on the matter, however.

"It's nasty," he said. " You'd go home smelling like smoke. You know, you have somebody else killing you. For what? No, that's messed up."

Many bowlers, some who might consider themselves purists, believe that smoking and drinking go hand-in-hand with bowling. This would explain why many believed a drop in business would occur.

However, what Dennings has found is a smoke-free environment is bringing in families for their business. In fact, one league bowler agrees that the smoking law has helped the industry.

But it didn't just make the environment more pleasant for customers and their families. Dennings said many employees are happy that the law was passed as well.

"The girls don't have the smoke smell in their hair anymore," she said.

Dennings also said her employees are more productive as well.

Dennings is also a smoker, but believes in the law for the betterment of her customers and her business.

ORIGINAL STORY: LANSING - A year and a half after the passing of Michigan's Dr. Ron Davis Smoke-Free Air Law, a local business that served many smokers seems to be doing just fine.

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