After the smoke dissipates, the smell lingers. So the Ashburn Pub is receiving a fresh coat of paint, new ceiling tiles and hardwood floors to comply with the Virginia smoking ban that started Dec. 1. The ban requires all restaurants and bars to be smoke-free unless a walled-off and independently ventilated smoking section is provided.

Mark Eckert, owner of the Pub, said he planned to renovate even before the smoking ban was passed in the Virginia General Assembly in February 2009.

After 14 years as owner, Eckert was a little bit nervous to see his patrons' reactions to the changes.  "I think so far, we've heard pretty good reaction about it," he said.

Pub patrons must now light up under an outside awning. To make the transition a little easier, Eckert is providing benches and tall cigarette stands.  "Smokers are kind of out of options," Eckert said. "Some smokers are thinking, 'You know what, I'm gonna quit smoking, this is it.'"

Asme Zarou, owner of Spanky's Shenanigans pub in Leesburg, chafes against the idea of pushing his loyal customers outside. He's collecting bids from contractors to divide the restaurant into smoking and nonsmoking using a dividing wall. The main entrance will split to two doors to accommodate both areas. The restaurant already has two ventilation systems. Unfortunately, the improvement plans have yet to be submitted and approved by the county, so for now the smokers' area is the outside bar.

Eckert hopes the law will benefit his business by drawing in customers who were previously offended by the smoke. He looks forward to seeing new faces and transitioning the bar into a family-friendly establishment. Wives can join their husbands and bring their kids to the restaurant without having to worry about the hazards of secondhand smoke or the smell getting into their hair and clothes, he said.

Zarou isn't so much worried about attracting new customers as much as keeping his regulars happy. He said it's too soon to see how the ban will effect the bar, if at all.  "I'd like to see if I have more of a nonsmoking crowd," he said. "I'll know that this weekend, and I'll see if I have a new clientele or not."