Mollie Stone's ends tobacco sales

The eight-store chain removed all tobacco products from its shelves yesterday and will soon begin returning its $30,000 inventory to manufacturers. The decision makes the company the first in the Bay Area, and probably the first of its size in the state, to ban tobacco products. The decision was met with praise by the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society.

"Hopefully other stores will follow suit,” said Arlene Francisco of the greater Bay Area chapter of the American Lung Association.

The decision to stop selling tobacco has long been a wish of David Bennett, co-owner of the 20-year-old grocery store chain. As the company moved into its second decade, Bennett and his business partner started thinking about what they wanted to do differently with the store. Both came back to the idea of eliminating tobacco. Six months ago, they made the decision to go ahead with the plan and it is receiving nothing but positive response since then, Bennett said.

"We started to look back on how we could make a difference in people’s lives,” Bennett said. "We looked at it as a way to do something right.”

The store that’s known for choices, Bennett said, is happy to eliminate one. Store employees are behind the decision and Bennett said he was slightly surprised that smokers didn’t seem that bothered.

Two San Mateo customers tried to purchase cigarettes yesterday afternoon. When they were informed the store didn’t sell tobacco products both responded with responses similar to "that’s probably for the best,” Bennett said.

There is no indication on how much money the company will lose by not selling cigarettes, Bennett said.

Bennett is confident the decision will not deter customers because there is usually a store to buy cigarettes within a block of every Mollie Stone’s store, he said.

Mollie Stone’s is the now the only grocery store in the greater Bay Area and probably the only one of its size in California banning tobacco products,” Francisco said.

The American Lung Association believes the store’s decision to ban tobacco is one of the first steps to preventing children from picking up the bad habit.

"We’re very, very supportive of Mollie Stone’s. The fewer places that sell tobacco means one less place for youth to buy cigarettes,” said Patricia Clark, development director for the American Lung Association.

Bennett said it is not his intention to affect people’s decision whether to smoke and he’s been surprised at the attention the decision is attracting.

"I didn’t realize we would have the impact we’re having,” Bennett said.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.<