{"id":27989,"date":"2024-04-26T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/orios-roadhouse-one-of-last-exceptions-to-colorados-smoking-ban-to-go-smoke-free\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T00:17:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:17:31","slug":"orios-roadhouse-one-of-last-exceptions-to-colorados-smoking-ban-to-go-smoke-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/orios-roadhouse-one-of-last-exceptions-to-colorados-smoking-ban-to-go-smoke-free\/","title":{"rendered":"Orio\u2019s Roadhouse, one of last exceptions to Colorado\u2019s smoking ban, to go smoke-free"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Jeff
Jeff Clark lights up a cigarette Thursday at Orio\u2019s Roadhouse in Durango. The bar plans to go smoke-free on Wednesday, bringing an end to its 18-year run of being classified as a cigar-tobacco bar, which allowed indoor smoking under Colorado law. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

On any given night, a crowd bellies up to the bar at Orio\u2019s Roadhouse.<\/p>\n

Inside, a diverse ecosystem of customers wet their whistles, play pool or throw darts.<\/p>\n

A smoky haze fills the bar decorated with neon beer signs, flat screen televisions and even Steve Carlton\u2019s signed baseball bat. College students, members of Durango\u2019s workforce and business owners all enjoy each other\u2019s company through the heavy scent of cigarette smoke.<\/p>\n

But as of Wednesday, Orio\u2019s Roadhouse, more commonly referred to as \u201cThe Roadhouse,\u201d will no longer allow what has been its claim to fame: the right to smoke indoors while enjoying libations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been blessed to have prospered as a smoking bar for the last 18 years,\u201d said co-owner Heidi Orio, who runs the business with her husband, Rob. \u201cThere are many factors that have gone into the discussion to go nonsmoking. We just feel its time now to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Roadhouse has become an anomaly. Not only in Colorado, but across the country because the business allows patrons to smoke inside. Smoking in bars used to be the norm before the Colorado Clean Indoor Act was passed in 2006.<\/p>\n

\"Donna
Donna Kramer smokes a cigarette with Tom Kramer on Thursday at Orio\u2019s Roadhouse in Durango. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Colorado was one of many states to pass anti-indoor smoking legislation during the time. The other Four Corners states quickly followed suit in 2007.<\/p>\n

As of 2018, 29 states had banned smoking indoors.<\/p>\n

But the act says that a \u201ccigar-tobacco bar\u201d can allow indoor smoking. To be classified as such, businesses must generate at least 5% of their total gross annual income or $50,000 in annual sales from on-site tobacco sales.<\/p>\n

The Roadhouse was able to prove that 5% of its sales came from tobacco sales based how many cigarettes it sold at the bar \u2013 classifying the Roadhouse as a cigar-tobacco bar.<\/p>\n

The Orios say they still bring in more than the needed 5% in tobacco sales.<\/p>\n

But now the owners feel it is time to join the rest of the Durango bar community by banning smoking indoors.<\/p>\n

The owners say they want to be more involved with the community, and it has been difficult to have events at the Roadhouse because nonsmoking customers are deterred.<\/p>\n

Rob said it has been difficult to attract pool leagues to come play at the bar because of the constant smell of smoke. Also, despite being a popular late-night spot, the bar has struggled to host Snowdown events.<\/p>\n

The owners understand the decision has its detractors, especially among its regular clientele.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think some people will be upset, but they can\u2019t smoke anywhere else,\u201d Rob said. \u201cIt\u2019s not like they can do it at the Ranch or the Garage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rob
Rob and Heidi Orio, owners of Orio\u2019s Roadhouse, on Thursday inside the bar in Durango. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Heidi said the decision was emotional and took some deep consideration. Especially after the owners fought so hard to keep the Roadhouse a smoking bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe choice to go nonsmoking has been ongoing for about six months,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a back and forth, positive and negative narrative for both Rob and I.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding insurance for the bar has been difficult because many agencies won\u2019t provide plans to a smoking bar. And when insurance options are limited, it drives up the cost of premiums.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just kind of feel like it\u2019s a matter of time before they\u2019ll be like, \u2018Sorry, we\u2019re not going to cover you anymore.\u2019 And we won\u2019t be able to find any insurance. Then, we\u2019d have to go nonsmoking because you have to have insurance for your business,\u201d Heidi said.<\/p>\n

While the business brings in the necessary revenue to be considered a cigar bar, it doesn\u2019t make a great deal of money selling cigarettes. The bar intends to stop selling them once the ban goes into effect.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019re crazy for giving up,\u201d said Roadhouse regular John Kusenberger. \u201cThey\u2019re the only game for miles around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Sharon
Sharon Kusenberger smokes a cigarette on Thursday at Orio\u2019s Roadhouse in Durango. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The 87-year-old Kusenberger enjoys going to the Roadhouse every day for a Coca-Cola and a cigarette with his wife. The two were enjoying their routine while they still could on Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually don\u2019t smoke outside of this bar. She\u2019s the smoker,\u201d he said jokingly, referring to his wife, Sharon. \u201cBut when we come here, we get to have a smoke and a drink.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other customers were also disappointed by the decision. Roadhouse regular Donna Kramer started a petition to keep smoking at the bar. She understands that it may not do much to convince the owners, but it will at least show how many people are passionate about the topic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of friends that come down to this bar specifically (to smoke), because it\u2019s the only bar,\u201d Kramer said before taking a shot at the eight ball during a game of pool.<\/p>\n

\"A
A sign in front of Orio\u2019s Roadhouse on Thursday states the last day of smoking at the Durango bar is April 30. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

She said friends from Arizona and New Mexico often travel to Durango to enjoy a cigarette at the Roadhouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cTimes are changing. People want to be comfortable, and I think that\u2019s the aesthetic the owners are going for,\u201d said Tomas Thompson, another regular.<\/p>\n

Dylan Pierce said his \u201cTallboy Tuesday\u201d tradition won\u2019t be the same without the ability to smoke inside. He, like some others, only smoke when going to the Roadhouse, simply because of the aesthetic.<\/p>\n

Pierce said he thinks the ban could flip the bar\u2019s demographics, but only time will tell.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn a Friday night, it\u2019s still the best place to socialize,\u201d Pierce said. \u201cWhere is there a better bar in town to walk into and talk to your buddies?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Orio\u2019s
Orio\u2019s Roadhouse on Thursday. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Despite their disappointment, many regular customers respect the Orios\u2019 decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love them (Heidi and Rob),\u201d Kramer said.<\/p>\n

She said it was just hard to lose something that has become routine.<\/p>\n

From an employee perspective, it will be an adjustment, said Edith Engelsman, who has bartended at the Roadhouse for 15 years.<\/p>\n

She joked that she is going to keep one ashtray at the bar in case someone lights up and she has to tell them to put it out.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout half of the employees smoke and the other half don\u2019t,\u201d she said. \u201cBut to be honest, working during the day, I don\u2019t get crazy busy. I can step out there, take a couple drags and come right back in.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said it is a positive for the late-night bartenders who don\u2019t smoke.<\/p>\n

Rob said it was important they make the change during the slow tourism season. This is to prevent misunderstandings from tourists stopping in, thinking it is still a smoking bar.<\/p>\n

In order to celebrate the Roadhouse\u2019s history of smoking inside the bar, it will be hosting a smoking party all day on Tuesday. The bar will be offering $3 Ska Mexican Logger pints as well as other discounted drinks to honor its time as a smoking bar.<\/p>\n

At the start of Wednesday, Roadhouse staff will begin deep cleaning the bar in an attempt to remove the lingering smell from years of cigarette use, Engelsman said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love all customers. Our regulars are considered family and we truly love that,\u201d Heidi said. \u201cAt the same time, there are so many people that have not been able to experience what we are as business owners because they won\u2019t come in due to the smoking.\u201d<\/p>\n

tbrown@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"A
A patron smokes a cigarette Thursday at Orio\u2019s Roadhouse in Durango. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

it\u2019s time to align with community values<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[431,314,950,28],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-27989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-business-general","tag-downtown-durango","tag-durango","tag-headlines"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27989","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27989"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27989\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80264,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27989\/revisions\/80264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27989"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=27989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}