Rockingham County restaurants to participate in Smoke Free Dining Day

Planning on smoking when you go out to lunch on Thursday? Leave your cigarettes at home if you’re going to one of several restaurants participating in Smoke Free Dining Day.

“The Maternal and Child Health Work Group, one of three work groups under the Rockingham County Healthy Carolinians Partnership, is sponsoring the Smoke Free Dining Day campaign in an effort to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, especially among children,” said Katrina White, Healthy Carolinians coordinator. She said children are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke in public places.

Smoke Free Dining Day coincides with the annual Great American Smoke-Out, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Countywide, 29 restaurants are participating in Smoke Free Dining Day, a 45 percent increase over last year. That doesn’t count the 49 restaurants that are 100 percent smoke-free every day, a 44 percent increase, according to White.

Carolina Cafe in downtown Reidsville is participating, and some customers are happy about it.

“We love the fact that you’re not going to be able to smoke. I think it’s a good idea,” said the Rev. Todd McDonald of Covington Wesleyan Church. He said the restaurant doesn’t have designated smoking area, so the smoke drifts throughout the building.

“I don’t know why they can’t come in here and have lunch and smoke when they leave,” said Ron Elliott. He said he doesn’t care to eat where he knows he will be exposed to cigarette smoke.

Mom’s Kitchen of Wentworth is participating for the second year in a row.

“We’ve got a lot of people saying they wish it would be like this every day,” Ross Hammond, co-owner with his wife, Amy, said. “I wish they would make it a law.”

For now, Hammond said, he will continue to cater to smoking and non-smoking customers alike.

“I’ve noticed that a lot of restaurant owners or managers would like to be 100 percent smoke free,” White said. “They feel they have a responsibility to their loyal customers and they don’t want to offend them either, so they’re kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

White said studies show that implementing a smoke-free policy does not decrease a restaurant’s profit and, in some cases, increases the bottom line.

Talk of the Town Grille in Reidsville will be smoke-free Thursday.

“Myself, I’m a smoker, but I’m going to participate to the fullest,” James Garrett, the owner, said. “I’m just trying to see what the people want. I want people in here and I want them happy.”

Talk of the Town is too small to have a non-smoking section but, Garrett said, if someone with a health problem comes in he politely asks his smoking customers to refrain. It’s never been a problem, he said.

Cohen’s Tearoom in Eden has also decided to go smoke-free.

“I do honor it that day for my customers as well as my employees. No smoking whatsoever. If they do, they have to go outside,” owner Carlene Cohen, known as “Ms. Kitty,” said.

Cohen had a brother who died of lung cancer, and she wants to do whatever she can to prevent those around her from suffering from smoking-related health problems. But she won’t make her restaurant non-smoking, as many of her customers smoke.

“You have to please your customers,” she said.

According to the American Cancer Society, nonsmokers who take in smoke exhaled by a smoker breathe in most of the same cancer-causing parts.

“Approximately 43.4 million (one in five) U.S. adults are current smokers and smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke result in approximately 443,000 premature deaths in the U.S. annually,” according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Exposure to secondhand smoke is particularly harmful to children, especially those who already have sinus problems, asthma or other respiratory problems, White said. Exposure to cigarette smoke is dangerous for pregnant women as well as to children.

“Babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy have lower birth weights,” White said.  “Low birth weight is a leading cause of infant deaths.”

Restaurants participating in the Smoke Free Dining Day will receive a certificate from the Healthy Carolinians Partnership. The other restaurants in Reidsville, Wentworth and Eden taking part are Chaney’s of Eden and Reidsville, Cliff’s Place, both locations of El Parral, Elizabeth Pizza, Italy Grill, Rio Grande, Roma Pizza & Subs, Sonic of Eden and Reidsville, Bona Pizza, Carmela Pizza, Dragon Garden Chinese and McDonald’s of Reidsville.

Staff Writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.