Business is growing at a popular South Bend bar despite two factors working against it: a down Notre Dame football season and the impending smoking ban.

Mulligan’s is a popular bar and restaurant, especially on Notre Dame football game days. The bar banned smokign in August, months before South Bend’s smoking ban is set to take place in January. However, owner Patrick Mulligan says business has gone up since the self-imposed ban, according to ABC 57.

Mulligan says more and more diners are coming in on non-football game days. He’s even had to hire a few more cooks to handle the new wave of customers. This despite Mulligan strongly opposing the smoking ban at first.

Mulligan believes small business owners will do fine, despite worries in the community. His bar is hosting a public party at 5 p.m. Monday to celebrate its recent success.