Smoking Ban Sucks Ashes

"How is the Dane County, Wisconsin smoking ban working out?" you ask.

It sucks ashes.

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk signed into law an ordinance that bans smoking in the unincorporated areas of Dane County. So, as of Saturday, you can't smoke at our bar although you can smoke at bars 6 miles in any direction (incorporated areas).

"Well," you're probably thinking, "that must be great for business."

Our receipts from last Saturday were less than 1/2 of any of the prior Saturdays. Probably just a coincidence.

1) The smoking ban was passed (supposedly) to keep employees from having an unsafe work environment. We have no employees. Based upon the reaction to the smoking ban, we're not likely to need employees any time soon.

2) At one point on Saturday, we had 14 patrons sitting/standing outside and NONE inside the building. I just locked the doors so that I could sit outside with everyone else. That is what I call a safe environment.

3) If the smoking ban was a wise business move, our business would have banned smoking. Neither Jack nor I are smokers and we can both live without having clothes smell like smoke all of the time. However, the business is a tavern. People go to taverns to drink alcohol and smoke tobacco. Now they just don't go to ours, and they have to drive an extra 6 miles.

4) Why not ban the freedom of assembly period? Then we would all be free from exposure to second-hand smoke, dust, perfume, deodorant, peanuts, mold, asbestos, gluten, latex, body odor, halitosis, foot fungus, and MSG. Just think of the health cost savings if we each lived in our own little oxygen tent.

Status report

We have a coat of primer paint on the walls and should get the place painted this week. We've decided on walls that are black on the bottom and then offwhite on the top. The ceiling will stay/become white and the floor maroon. We've ordered the commercial vinyl tiles and expect to have them installed in about 2 weeks.

It doesn't look like we'll make the July 18 Grand Opening, but perhaps August 1!?!

Thanks

Community support for the Bar Up Above has been unbelievable. When James put away the Sawzall and starting serving warm beer with no bar stools last Saturday, a steady stream of customers starting flowing in. The stream hasn't stopped.

And the patrons have not only supported us with their purchases, they have been extremely gracious with their donations. Our 1 bar stool has now been joined by 17 others, all gifted by friends. They don't match, but you can definitely sit on each of them. We also were given two mounted goat's heads, a guitar, an amplifier, 4 stereo speakers, a CD changer, some coolers, and the list goes on.

We are extremely grateful for all of the support, and we aim to make the Bar Up Above your favorite G-Spot.

James

Jack

Opening Night

The Pre-Grand Pre-opening was a wild success and a great time. James was working in the bar with a sawz-all Saturday afternoon trying to cut the bar loose from the floor in preparation for putting in a new floor. He had the doors open to let in some fresh air. After finishing a section of cutting, when he looked up, what to his wondering eyes should appear but two customers. So, he got out three beers and put away the saw.

Then another person stopped by, and another and another. James called Jack and told him to pick up some ice and toilet paper and then to show up. By the time Jack arrived, there were 5 or 6 people standing around the bar (we had no stools at the moment). Someone arrived with her own bar stool in tow. Obviously she had gotten tipped off to the situation.

The walk in cooler stopped working for some reason, so beers had to be iced in coolers. The first couple of rounds were a bit warm, but after that everything worked fine.

People continued to stop in throughout the afternoon and evening. Soon someone arrived with 4 more barstools that were donated to the bar. Someone else donated a guitar and then an amplifier. Things really shaped up quickly. At one point, there were at least 20 people in the bar.

For a Pre-grand Pre-opening opening with no advertising or even signage other than a "Sold" banner on the real estate sign, it was a remarkable turnout. The community support for another bar was obvious and impressive.

More Before

What's in a name?

The bar now known as "Up Above" was known as "Up Above" even before it became known as "Up Above." Whether it was "Jeannes" or "BJ's" or "Sparky's" or "Ways" or "Marty's," the tavern always was referred to by locals as "Up Above."

Why is it called "Up Above?" Is it because it is a little slice of heaven? Is it because life is simply better there? Is it because you have to walk up a slight hill to get there from Mount Vernon's other bar? Yes, it is for all of these reasons.

When we decided to resurrect the bar, we stripped away the veneer (about 2 dumpster loads worth). We are left with the soul of the bar which is and always has been "Up Above."

Scariest Dive Bar in the World

According to someone named Derge on Flickr /derge/2731667018/, we are purchasing what he calls, quote:

Ladies and gentlemen: The scariest dive bar in the world. The more I think about it, the more I know it's true. I've wanted to get a picture of this sucker for a long time. JUST LOOK AT IT, man!

Always strive to be the best at what you do.

Before

The Depths

clouds