Pocono News Section

Smoke Free Bar in the Poconos

Smoke Free Bar in the Poconos - Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 7:30PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, Jun 26, 2008 @ 07:30pm EST

EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY- The new Bleachers Sports Zone in East Stroudsburg has everything you'd expect to see in a sports bar except one thing. The bar is smoke free. The owner of the bar Patrick Mullaly says, "There's nothing like it in the Poconos right now."

Mullaly opened the place inside of the Dansbury Depot restaurant on Saturday. He said they banned smoking for the sake of his customers and employees, and probably is saving them a few years on their lives.

Bartender Nancy Madden agrees. She used to work in a traditional smoky bar. She says, "When I would come home from work I would just wreak of cigarettes. It was really gross."

So she couldn't pass up the chance to work at this bar and breath easy. Customers also told them they believe it is a good idea.

Scott Maclaren stopped in the bar for lunch on Thursday. He owns a nearby business and he expects the new sports bar will bring him more customers. He says, "This is really the golden goose. He brings a lot of business to the street."

Pat Mullaly hopes to continue his smoke free tradition far into the future.