MADISON, Wis. -- One year after the Madison smoking ban took effect, supporters gathered Friday night to celebrate the milestone.

Dane County’s Smoke-Free Coalition said that after a year of heated debate it is time those for and against the smoking ban come together, for a least a chance at compromise, if not a celebration.

Amanda Mitchell didn’t know about Friday night’s smoking-ban celebration, but she was thrilled to see the festivities after bringing her niece bowling.

“We walked in, we got our shoes, we came over and I saw they guy with the red shirt and thought, I have to have a shirt like that,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said her family wouldn’t have bowled in Madison Friday night if it weren’t for the city’s smoking ban.

“For me, I spend a lot more money at the bars and places like this than we would have. Tonight we would have gone mini-golfing instead of coming here, which I would rather do because there’s like a thousand people mini-golfing tonight,” Mitchell said.

For businesnessowner Dan Schwoegler, it is a bittersweet anniversary, but one he planned to deal with in the most proactive way possible -- to promote the bowling alley as family friendly.

“It’s a bittersweet scenario here. I mean, obviously, you’re still against the ban you know, as bar owners you’re trying to support those tavern people. I’m for a state-wide referendum,” Schwoegler said.

Dane County’s Tobacco Free Coalition said it understand the sacrifices businesses are making to comply with the smoking ban, but he hopes it can continue working with those businesses.

“If we can start closing in some of the gaps in coverage, I think people will be more comfortable with the ordinances and you know life will go on, and I think people can get used to this kind of situation,” said Gary Poulson, chair of the Dane County Tobacco Free Coalition.

Schwoegler said the smoking ban will still take time to get used to, but he’s not ready to give up on Madison just yet.

“I still love the city. This is a great city, and you’ve got to follow through and you got to play with the cards you’re dealt with,” he said.

Schwoegler said he would like to see a statewide referendum for a smoking ban because it would put all businesses on an even playing field.

Meanwhile, on Friday night the owners of a Madison business are preparing to close its doors and they are blaming the smoking ban.

Owners at the Runway Rub and Grill on Packers Avenue said sales dropped 60 percent in the last year. Saturday will be its final day of business, WISC-TV reported.

Five other Madison businesses said similar losses forced them to close their doors for good.

According to the Dane County Tavern League, a number of other businesses reported a 30 to 50 percent loss in sales.

The American Cancer Society said 16 states, plus Washington D.C., have smoking bans, and more than 2,200 communities have smoke-free ordinances.

Of those communities, 27 are in Wisconsin, according to a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel report.

Meanwhile, a new report released this week by the Surgeon General’s Office is fueling the push for more smoking bans, including one in Fitchburg.

The report said the only way to protect people from the dangers of secondhand smoke it to eliminate exposure.

In Fitchburg, ban supporters expect to use the report as a reason why a ban is necessary. The mayor said a final meeting and decision should take place at a very crowded meeting on July 11.