MADISON, Wis. -- The owners of an East Side bar said Madison's smoking ban has forced them out of business.

And other bar owners weighed in Wednesday, saying the smoking ban may eventually force them to close their doors as well.

Hammer Time will close its doors next Saturday, April 8, after more than 70 years as a corner bar.

Hammer Time's owners are adamant that the smoking ban drove them out of business, but others aren't so convinced.

Supporters of the ban say other factors could have been at work in the Hammer Time closing, such as the location and the bar's past financial troubles.

Whatever the reason, the Mayor Dave Cieslewicz says only a few bars are struggling.

“[The closing] could be to some extent due to the smoking ban, but there are always all kinds of other business issues that could be at play,” Cieslewicz said.

About a dozen other bar owners, many from the north and east side of Madison, said their business has been hurt by the ban and that they could soon close as well.

Joe Klinzing, the owner of the South Bay Lounge & Grill, said he's looking to move to a new location outside the city of Madison.

“We got to look for a new site and we'll be looking outside of Madison, I guarantee you that,” said Klinzing.

Bob Hanson, who owns Mr. Roberts Bar on Atwood Ave, said he has seen revenues drop 30 to 35 percent. He thinks the ban could eventually force him to close his bar.

“It could very well happen to me,” said Hanson. “I mean how much longer can I hang out? I don't have the big bills like some of these people have, but if it keeps up it could put me out of business."

“If they're going for prohibition, they're doing a good job,” Hanson added.

Even if Madison does see a flurry of closures, Cieslewicz told News 3 that he doesn’t see the city stepping away from the smoking ban.

“I don't think so; I think the smoking ban is tremendously popular,” Cieslewicz said. “It is accomplishing our goal of increasing public health."

In addition to the public health benefits, supporters of the ban point to an increase in liquor license requests as evidence the industry isn't hurting, WISC-TV reported.

The mayor said smoke free is the wave of the future and it's only a matter of time before the entire state goes the same way.