By By JAMES COLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Like many people who are making New Year's resolutions to quit smoking, E.J.'s Home Plate Restaurant has decided to go smoke free in 2004 as well.
The family restaurant, located in Martin's Plaza, will do away with its smoking section starting on Jan. 1, 2004.
He said that dividing the restaurant into smoking and non-smoking sections really did not effectively shield non-smoking customers.
E.J.'s Home Plate Restaurant is a typical family-style restaurant that features a full menu and a friendly atmosphere, customers agree.
Foster, who has owned the restaurant for a year and half, said he made this decision about two months ago based on the feedback he got from customers and employees.
On Jan. 1, the cozy restaurant will be adorned with signs reading, "smoke-free environment."
While this change may cause him to lose a few customers, he hopes it will also bring in some new ones.
With states and cities across the country requiring restaurants to be smoke free, Foster thinks this is a trend that may become much more widespread in the future.
E.J.'s Home Plate is located at 730 S. 11th Street in Niles and is open seven days a week.