On May 31st, 2009, La Vista Keno proprietor Rich Bellino does not hide his immense dislike for the smoking ban that will be enforce on Monday, June 1st, 2009 for bars and restaurants across the state of Nebraska. A significant portion of his business comes from smokers so Bellino have added a comfortable and sheltered area to his building where smokers can continue to smoke and enjoy keno.
Following state guidelines, Bellino had constructed a big, enclosed patio on the southern portion of La Vista Keno. The patio, which features a keno area and a lounge area, can accommodate up to 160 players. To be in compliance with the state guidelines, twenty percent of the wall space needed to be exposed to the outside. But to make it comfortable all year round, La Vista Keno's patio also features heating from both above and below.
The floor has heating tubes embedded through the concrete floor and heating ventilation overhead that will allow Bellino to keep a comfortable temperature for players during winter. During the summer, fans will help keep players comfortable and relax. Bellino said that the patio will open on Monday to comply with the smoking ban. La Vista Keno is also building a new bar as part of the smoking ban project in order to place it to a more accessible location at the establishment. But the bar will not be finished by Monday.
Bellino states that the patio construction will cost him twice what he originally paid for the entire facility when he bought it twenty years ago. But he thinks that the cost will be worth it especially during the months of January and February where it is really cold to stand outside just to smoke. Bellino said that he is happy that the state allowed some considerations for smokers. So he expects that nothing will change at La Vista Keno despite the ban.
[03-06]
John Sullivan
