It has been four months since Wilton Drives’ Sidelines has gone smoke free.  How has it affected profits? Positively, according to Jennifer Morales, the marketing director of the famed sports bar. She said, “While the economy still seems to create a challenge to small businesses in our area, we have noticed an incremental revenue uptick since we went smoke-free.

We are optimistic that this trend will continue in the coming months.”

The announcement to go smoke free was announced last year and went into effect on the January 5^th of this year. At the time, Sidelines owners Laurie Whittaker and Marty Kildea stated that, while a number of small businesses across the country face difficult and challenging times due to the nation’s harsh economic conditions, Sidelines has remained unaffected and has been able to ride the storm and remain solvent. They recognized, however, that in order to sustain economic health and continue to grow, Sidelines must continue to improve and evolve. Whittaker and Kildea said that they held discussions with their staff, customers and other business people and decided to “bring a breath of fresh air” to Sidelines.

“It must be reiterated that these changes in no way affect the ‘sports theme’ that has made Sidelines the repeated award-winning entertainment venue of Fort Lauderdale since their opening in 2006,” said the bar in a statement. “The only things that will not change are the fun and friendly staff, the demand for a high level of customer service and a passionate desire to provide Fort Lauderdale’s LGBT community a pleasant and comfortable environment in which gay sports enthusiasts can come together in a place where they can feel at home.”

This has clearly worked.  As Jennifer Morales said, “We are so delighted by the response received from our customers thus far. We have seen new faces come to Sidelines – and even seen some old ones that are returning – because of the changes we’ve made. The outdoor patio area is very popular amongst our smoking friends, and they have welcomed the change. “