Sprkus

The owner of Zeno’s in Victorian Village, Dick Allen, will become the first to challenge enforcement of Ohio’s smoking ban tomorrow morning during an administrative hearing according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Zeno’s and the city of Columbus will present their cases to a hearing officer, who will then make recommendations to the Board of Health. The Health Board is expected to address the matter at a meeting next month.

Zeno’s “has a reputation as one of the top smoking-ban scofflaws within Columbus Public Health’s jurisdiction,” according to the Dispatch article.

John Richter, supervisor of the city’s smoke-free program, said one of the first calls to the city’s complaint line was about Zeno’s.

So far, Zeno’s has received a $100 fine, which it paid, a $1,000 fine and a $2,000 fine, Richter said in the article. The second and third fines, which have not been paid, were double the standard charge, which the city is allowed to do when it feels there is a blatant disregard for the law.

It would be awesome if Zeno’s beat the smoking ban somehow. I knew there was some reason I loved that place besides the cheap drinks, walking distance from my old place on 1st Ave. and … the fact you could smoke there. I basically lived in Zeno’s for more than a year. If you do a search for “Zeno’s” in my Flickr photostream, you’ll get 100s of hits.

I doubt Zeno’s will win and I hope a loss and forced fines don’t force the bar out of business. B. Hampton’s already closed months back.

If Zeno’s IS forced to close however, the Dispatch article named the Moose Lodge on Schrock Road, the Patio Lounge on Sullivant Avenue and the Southgate Lounge on S. High Street as other smoking-ban violators. Now smokers know where else they can go light up.

In a related matter, somebody has to recommend Zeno’s Web site as the best bar Web site in Ohio.