Yesterday I was wondering downtown Louisville down 4th street. At one time 4th street was the street for entertainment in the city of louisville, now it's being redone with a hard rock cafe, Red Cheeta night club and other semi-upscale stores (think block E.). A sidewalk detour took me through the Brown and Williamson lobby.
For those of you who don't know B&W is the nations 3rd (I think) largest tobacco company makers of such quality smoky treats as Kool, Lucky Strikes and Pall Mall.
Anyways much to my surprise people were smoking in the lobby. "Adult Smoking Area" signs were posted beside these huge ashtray/garbage cans you usually see going into not inside buildings. The room smelled like your friends house if their parents smoked inside. A "clean" stale smoke smell with dabs of industral floor polish mixed in for good measure. Along the wall were framed print cigarette ads from the past 60 or so years.
With its polished wood paneling and shiny rock floors, it was like a step back in time. I wonder if executives can smoke in their offices? Instead of donuts in the morning are there cartons of Kools on the break room table next to the coffee maker. Do they have bring your daugher/son to work day?
In an era where smoking has become the biggest social taboo (besides gay marriage I suppose) it's eerily comforting sombody can take a smoke break and not stand outside.
Posted by andy at March 9, 2004 07:34 PM