Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Bartender Carissa Collins keeps busy Tuesday night in the recently remodeled bar at the Station Grille.
Nighttime entertainment is getting more emphasis at the Station Grille following a $100,000 expansion in the restaurant's bar.
A new stage was built inside the bar, where music will be performed 6-10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
"Before, we had a single guitar player who roamed around the restaurant," said manager Carole Conklin. "Now we can have duos and trios on a stage."
More customers are eating at the bar after the voter-approved smoking ban went into effect in December, Conklin said. The bar capacity was doubled to 50.
"I think this is bringing out a lot more nonsmokers because now they can enjoy the nonsmoking atmosphere," she said Tuesday.
The Clean Indoor Air Act, approved in November, banned smoking in restaurants and bars that serve meals. Many bar owners worried that their smoking customers would stay away, but managers of the Station Grille said they've seen an increase in business for one simple reason: There are more nonsmokers than smokers.
The Station Grille, 1105 S. Carson St., reopened Feb. 2 following the four-week renovation. To make room for the expanded bar about 20 seats from the restaurant were removed, said Jennifer Russell, vice president of Capital City Entertainment, which owns the Station Grille.
"Our reasoning was, since the no-smoking law passed, the bar has become more popular for nonsmokers," she said.
Food will be served at the bar until 10 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday.
• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.