Rendezvous to forbid lighting up in dining areas on Jan. 11
By Lindsay Melvin
December 13, 2006

After the holidays the only thing you'll find being smoked at the Rendezvous will be the pork.

Beginning Jan. 11, the famous Downtown ribs joint will be smoke-free.

"It's just something we've been wanting to do," said co-owner Nick Vergos, who runs the Rendezvous with his two siblings.

For the first time in 58 years, customers will have to step outside the basement eatery if they want to light up.

As more cities ban smoking in workplace, Vergos said they're just doing what will eventually be forced.

"It's a trend all over the country and eventually it will be here," he said.

Over the years, the smoking section at Rendezvous has slowly decreased to where it now is 15 tables out of 150, Vergos said.

Signs hanging in the rib joint for the past month, warning costumers about the impending change, have created little protest.

"I don't think it will affect our business one way or the other," he said.

Memphis Restaurant Association president Jeffrey Dunham said several other restaurants, including his own, are considering going smoke-free.

Owner of The Grove Grill, Dunham is leaning toward clearing the air at the grill for the health of his employees and for some of his customers, he said.

"There's enough people out there who enjoy a glass of wine in a smoke-free environment," Dunham said.

However, he added whether a restaurant goes smoke-free should be left to the owner and not enforced by law.

"Business owners should have the option to decide how to run their businesses," he said.

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