The Huddle House in Peachtree City has been in place for over 10 years

and has allowed smoking for most of that time.

Current owner Mimi Gentilini purchased the business eight years ago

and was concerned at the number of teenagers smoking on the premises.

A cigarette machine was housed in the entryway.

When she observed a 12-year-old smoking in the restaurant, her mind

was made up. While it was producing a good revenue, Gentilini felt it

was not setting a good example and had the machine removed.

The New Jersey native has lived in Peachtree City for 17 years and at

one time was a heavy smoker herself. She quit smoking 22 years ago when

she started her family.

In March of this year she decided to go totally nonsmoking, and a green

decal at the entrance announces this fact. When asked how many people

let her know they would never be back, Gentilini said fewer than six.

Now new customers are taking the place of those plus many more new ones.

"Teenagers are still coming in before and after school, but they

are doing their homework instead of smoking," she said. "I

support several school projects, among them the McIntosh High School

card discount program, the McIntosh Touchdown Club, and the school cheerleaders

and football program. I also sponsor a girls softball league."

But she is concerned about

a proposed citywide public smokin ban, and particularly by wording

in a letter dated June 2, 2004 she received from

the city of Peachtree City concerning a workshop today at 6 p.m. It said,

in part, that if a smoking ban ordinance were passed it would "prohibit

smoking in all enclosed public places in Peachtree City ... and within

25 feet of buildings where smoking is not permitted. Proposed penalties

include a $50 fine for a person smoking in a designated 'non-smoking' area,

and imposes fines on businesses failing to comply with the ordinance

from $100 for a first violation to $500 and suspension of any licenses

held for the third or more violations within one year."

"In the first place, am I supposed to run out in my parking lot

and chase people away?" Gentilini asked. "And what if someone

decides they don't want the Huddle House as competition, and deliberately

smokes outside my door? I would like to know who and how this ordinance

would be enforced."

She added, "I believe

that nonsmoking buildings should be a market-driven situation. Let

business owners decide individually as to maintaining

a smoking or nonsmoking facility. If the nonsmoking facilities were recognized,

more business owners would also volunteer to go in that direction."

Copyright 2004-Fayette Publishing, Inc.