It’s a late morning on a typical Thursday in May at Ann Arbor’s Fleetwood Diner. Instead of the usual strong odor of cigarette smoke upon opening the door, the smell of coffee and hash browns fill the air. Not a cigarette is to be seen. Instead, there seems to be more food; plates laden with ‘Hippy Hash’ and buttery pancakes and fried eggs are present at almost every customer’s
“It’s changed business, there’s definitely more family people during the day,” said Jesse Barr, a dishwasher at Fleetwood. For Ann Arbor locals, it’s hard to imagine the Fleetwood as anything but the smoke filled, all night hotbox that it once was. “There’s definitely less business, because the bars get less people, so there’s less drunk people who come here wanting food,” said Barr.
The Fleetwood’s staff is used to midnight shifts being the busiest, now it’s become more like your average breakfast diner. “Midnights are totally slow because I think people would rather just buy alcohol and smoke at home,” said a waitress at Fleetwood, who adds that she’s “making less [money] right now, probably like 25% less.”
Many of Fleetwood’s regulars have voiced their disapproval of Fleetwood’s newly smoke free environment, but they are also getting a whole new clientele. People who would never have dreamed of setting foot in the Fleetwood before the smoking ban, are now stopping by to taste Fleetwood’s famous ‘Hippy Hash.’ “[The smoking ban] does interfere with my ability to enjoy my time here,” said Barr who has been a smoker for years.
For Fleetwood’s previous smoking customers, one of the best parts was that they could spend all night at the Fleetwood just lounging around, eating and talking, and lighting up a cigarette whenever they wanted. It made for an atmosphere like no other restaurant in Ann Arbor.
“I just got used to this place being weird, now it’s normal,” said Barr. Though it’s difficult for many of Fleetwood’s previous customers to see the motivation behind Michigan’s smoking ban, it is in fact there. The goal is to increase the publics’ over all health status, by preventing second hand smoke inhalation. “A lot of the employees who did smoke either quit or cut back significantly. So I can’t say it’s been a bad thing, except for the money,” said Barr.
As for the future of the Fleetwood, it’s difficult to say. “It’s definitely going to change the demographic, so you know, kids can’t cut class and come smoke,” said Barr with a laugh. For now smokers will have to be content smoking across the sidewalk from the Fleetwood, watching as toddlers enjoy their pancakes and apple juice.
