The smoke has cleared one year after DeKalb’s smoking ban was approved.

The ban passed 5-2 on Feb. 27, 2006, and went into effect Sept. 1, 2006.

Looking back at the past five months, businesses have had mixed reactions with the ban.

“If anything, we’ve had an improvement in business,” said Joni Busch, manager of Lincoln Inn Restaurant and Bakery. “We don’t have partitions to block smoke, so more people are coming in now.”

Mel Witmer, owner of O’Leary’s Pub and Grill also feels business has ultimately increased.

“We’re now attracting customers who prefer non-smoking, and people from neighboring cities,” Witmer said.

Other businesses have noticed a mixed response among customers.

“It really hasn’t affected business,” said Leif Bergstrand, assistant manager of Baker’s Square. “We might get a complaint or two, but for every complaint, we get a compliment.”

Though business declined for O’Leary’s at first, Witmer said he saw a boost in business afterwards.

Witmer said a new problem is they have to clean cigarette butts outside three times a day, instead of having to clean smoke residue from the ceiling and walls.

“Maintenance-wise, it’s a lot more manageable,” Witmer said.

Some smokers don’t see having to smoke outside as a problem.

“I don’t really mind it, it’s just more of an inconvenience,” said sophomore English major Sara Itzkowitz.

Itzkowitz said many smokers would previously spend more time inside an eating establishment sitting and smoking. Since the ban took effect, smokers do not have that option.

For other businesses like the Junction Eating Place, 816 W. Lincoln Highway, employees feel business since the ban has only declined.

“Business is bad because of the smoking ban,” said Junction employee Reanon Deleon.

Owner John Bahramis agreed.

“People are upset that they have to go outside,” Bahramis said. “We lost a lot of customers.”

Bahramis also expressed irritation with the fact that customers can go to Sycamore and still smoke indoors, because Sycamore does not have a smoking ban.

Mayor Frank Van Buer stressed the importance in terms of health for banning smoking in DeKalb.

“The smoking ban was done to protect the health of the workers and customers who come into these establishments,” Van Buer said. “It’s not an issue against the smokers. It’s protecting the health of others.”

Van Buer feels the ban has had positive effects on the city.

“I think it’s been very successful,” Van Buer said. “I think DeKalb stood up and made the decision early.”

The ban went into effect in September 2006 for all businesses except Class A liquor license holders. For these businesses, the ban will begin September of this year.

Because the bars have yet to implement the smoking ban, other businesses feel the situation is unfair.

“Some of the restaurants that serve alcohol are unhappy because smokers go to bars where food is served,” said city clerk Donna Johnson. “The bars are also unhappy because privates clubs will still get to allow smoking.”