PASADENA, Texas -- Smoking is allowed inside some Pasadena establishments where it was banned for more than a year, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

The sign outside Gene's Better Times bar in Pasadena said, "Smoking is Back". So are the customers, according to owner Gene Palma, a major opponent of the ban.

"All the customers were leaving," said Palma Monday. "They were going to bars outside Pasadena."

A smoking ban put in place in October 2006 made most public places smoke-free. Last week, City Council approved new guidelines that allow smoking in any establishment where the sale of alcohol is at least 60 percent of its revenue.

"I think it's good I can smoke in a bar," said James Beard, a Pasadena resident.

Even non-smoking patrons at Gene's did not seem to mind the change.

"Now people are coming back because they can smoke," said Buck Newbaker "It's a good thing."

Just down the street at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant, people are still smoking outside and the ban is still in effect.

Smoker Marvin Rohne was happy to oblige.

"It's bad for other people. It's my choice, if it's going to kill me, then it'll kill me not other people," said Rohne.

Some non-smokers said they prefer the clean air and wish the ordinance was everywhere. Some said the new guidelines were unfair.

"That should be up to the owner, not the mayor or the city," said Bert Dill.

Any establishment that allows smoking has new regulations to follow. In the next six months, they must have a total air exchange every 10 minutes and employers must contribute at least 50 percent of their employees' health insurance.

Bar owners said they were happy to make the changes.