Jay Sachetti joined Jeff O’Brien, partner at Husch Blackwell and Dyanne Ross-Hanson, president of Exit Planning Strategies talked about the market for mergers and acquisitions, exit planning opportunities for companies that don’t end up for sale and how companies can maximize their eventual sale price during an early October panel at the first Upsize on Tap event at Summit Brewing Co. in St. Paul.
When the state Legislature passed a law requiring employers to provide paid leave and safe time for employees, Justin Bieganek started hearing differing details from friends, colleagues and peers.
At the Groveland Tap in St. Paul, they switched to smoke-free in advance of the new smoking ban that goes into effect this month.
“We went non-smoking there on the 1st of January, to try and garner some press and some customer reaction,” says David Burley, CEO of Blue Plate Restaurant Co. in St. Paul and a part owner.
He says the late-night drinking business dropped off, but dinner business was better. Like other restaurant owners, he was worried what would happen come March, when bans on smoking in bars and restaurants in Hennepin and Ramsey counties begin. He fears patrons will just drive to a city outside of the bans.
“I’d be more comfortable with a statewide ban. It’s irresponsible of the state Legislature to let this happen county by county, city by city,” Burley says. The three restaurants his company owns outright, Longfellow Grill, Edina Grill and Highland Grill, are all smoke-free.
Tom Day, legislative director for Hospitality Minnesota in St. Paul, in late January was testifying at the Legislature against a statewide smoking ban, which was in a House health committee and later in the Senate. He says the bill still had a long way to go before becoming law.
Day’s association opposes smoking bans at restaurants and bars. “Restaurants believe it is not the government’s role to tell them how to treat their guests,” Day says. “We’re not pro-tobacco. We’re pro-choice.”
David Burley, Blue Plate Restaurant Co.: 612.916.2262; www.edinagrill.com. Tom Day, Hospitality Minnesota: 651.778.2400; to*@***********mn.com; www.hospitalitymn.com
