It’s ‘No Smoking Allowed’ Now at Both Vortex Locations

After 11,000 people weighed in over the last month, The Vortex in Midtown and Little Five Points is going smoke-free as of Friday, February 1, What Now Atlanta reports. The bar, known for its over-the-top burgers like the triple bypass and comedy shows at its Midtown club the Laughing Skull Lounge, was one of the few remaining dining establishments in Atlanta to allow smoking inside at its bar.

However, people can continue to slip outside to smoke. Smoking is still permitted on the sidewalk patio in Midtown and in the fenced-in waiting area (the “playpen”) outside in Little Five Points. Cigars, pipes, clove cigarettes, and anything “deemed illegal” are banned from being smoked inside or outside at both locations.

Owner Michael Benoit broke down the results of the month-long survey in a blog post, which saw 51 percent of the respondents claiming they do not patronize The Vortex because it allows smoking. When survey takers were asked if they were in favor of the bars becoming non-smoking, over 69 percent of the respondents said “yes.”

“We believe that this policy change will help satisfy the largest number of patrons possible. I suppose many people will celebrate these decisions, while others may be slightly disappointed,” Benoit concludes in the post. “As always, we are doing our best to please our core group of supporters. And this really is only about a smoking policy in a bar. So relax. Everything will be fine. Just take a deep breath – in the newly clean air of The Vortex.”

One thing likely never changing at The Vortex — the bar’s 21 and up only policy.

• All The Vortex coverage [EATL]