Now that smoking is banned inside Florida's restaurants, what's to become of all their ashtrays?
By KEISHA I. PATRICK
Published July 8, 2003
On Monday night, Jesse's Steak and Seafood in Brandon sent smokers home with a little sarcasm and special souvenirs.
"Bartenders handed out candy cigarettes and ashtrays as customers went out the door," said Jessica Callaghan, manager. "It was kind of fun and partylike."
At the Fourth Street Shrimp Store in St. Petersburg, employees moved the ashtrays from tables to storage.
"Right now they're sitting on a shelf. You never know when (Florida's new no-smoking law) is going to be overturned," said Richard Harris, a server at the restaurant.
Now that smoking has been banned from indoor workplaces, one may wonder: Where did all the ashtrays go?
Fate delivered some ashtrays to the gloomy darkness of smelly landfills; others found new work in employees' and customers' homes. Some face an uncertain destiny.
Bern's Steak House, Tampa
Cramped quarters inside cardboard boxes are the new homes for about 250 to 300 glass ashtrays from the lounge, dining and dessert rooms at Bern's. The late Bern Laxer, the restaurant's health-conscious founder, tried to get rid of smoking at the steak house in the 1980s, said Heather Sherer-Berkoff, Bern's public relations director. Smokers resisted the change. But no smoker in Florida could save the ashtrays from the public vote that put the tabletop accessories out of business, perhaps for good.
"They (ashtrays) were all boxed up and taken to storage down the street," Sherer-Berkoff said. "They'll probably stay there for a long time, at least until time has passed and he (owner David Laxer) feels (smoking's) not coming back."
Maureen's Palm Grille, Longboat Key
Maureen Horne had ashtrays specially designed for the bar area of her restaurant when she opened it five years ago, said Joe Zielinski, a manager at the restaurant. Vibrant colors and eclectic designs distinguished these trays from round black plastic and glass ashtrays at many other businesses.
When the no-smoking law went into effect July 1, there was nothing special about Maureen's ashtrays in comparison with those at any other restaurant. They all had to go.
The designer ashtrays are in the restaurant's back room, stacked in the liquor cabinet in "retirement" for now, Zielinski said. They may soon have a new use.
"If you look at them you wouldn't think they were ashtrays," he said. "They're kind of unique. Maybe we could use them for peanuts and trail mix."
Beef O'Bradys, Dunedin
Beef O'Bradys owner John Lavezzo hasn't given much thought to what will become of the square glass ashtrays that use to sit atop the restaurant tables. For now, they're just sitting in the back room.
"I might just give them away to people to have at their homes," Lavezzo said. "If somebody wants an ashtray, I'll give 'em an ashtray. I have no use for them."
Crown Bowling Lanes, Tampa
With no ifs, ands or butts, the 40 to 60 ashtrays at this bowling alley became garbage shortly after the business closed on June 30.
"We just threw them all out," said Phyllis Nelson, manager. "They were just plain black ashtrays."
Larry's Kountry Kitchen, Dade City, and JR's Floribbean, Brandon
John Walter, owner of JR's Floribbean, is sending the 20 to 30 multiple-color ashtrays from JR's to another restaurant he owns with an outdoor tiki bar. But ashtrays from Larry's are staying right where they are, said Larry's owner Judy Shoemaker.
"I've got them under the counter for now, but when I get back from vacation they're going to be outside," Shoemaker said.
A new patio will be open at Larry's by next Wednesday for customers who want to come drink coffee or tea and smoke, she said. "They're (ashtrays) washed and clean and sitting there waiting to be used again."
Denny's, St. Petersburg and Tampa
With a tone that said "they're just ashtrays," Debbie Atkins, public relations director for Denny's, based in Spartanburg, S.C., said the company has no plans for the 500 or so ashtrays in its 12 restaurants in Tampa and St. Petersburg. For now, they're in storage. A thought popped up in Atkins' mind: Perhaps Denny's restaurants here will do what Denny's in other states, such as California, did when smoking was banned. What'd they do?
Uncertainty filled her voice. Well, uh . . . She realized she didn't quite know what became of the ashtrays from Denny's in other states. She gave her best, although shaky, answer.
"It could range from being disposed of to being discarded to being handed out to employees and customers."
That's all she had to say about that.
Hopper's Grill & Brewery, New Port Richey
While officials at Denny's corporate office scratch their heads, their counterparts at Hopper's Grill & Brewery may opt for recycling.
"We've just put them into a box and taped them up and sent them to the storeroom," said Raechel Trevena, Hopper's general manager. "They might stay there for years. Shawn (Shawn Dunlap, the owner) might put them in an auction in a state where people can smoke."
Tampa Lanes, Tampa
In this economy, where spending is tight and money is scarce, Tampa Lanes has decided that its investment in ashtrays isn't worth tossing in the trash.
"We'll probably leave them in the closet forever. We don't plan on doing anything with them," day manager Mark Bremer said. "We paid for them; why throw them away? Who are we going to give them to? There's no smoking in Florida."
Pepin Restaurant, St. Petersburg
Ashtrays at Pepin are stored, waiting for their destiny. If the restaurant can't recycle or restore them, they'll probably be taking a trip to the landfill, manager James Massaro said.
One other option crossed Massaro's mind, but it's not worth the cost, he said.
"We're definitely not going to ship them to Europe," he said. "We know they could use them, but we're not going to pay the shipping."
