SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 4
VLLC AGENDA
MARCH 14, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: February 29, 1996
Dept. File No.2184IC.COV
TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM: Deputy Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT: 870 Granville Street (Commodore Cabaret)
Class 'C' Cabaret and Class 'B' Restaurant
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission advise the Liquor
Control and Licensing Branch that it supports the continuation of
the existing Class 'C' Cabaret and Class 'B' Restaurant operation
at 870 Granville Street with the existing or replacement liquor
licenses.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of
the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
That the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission will consider any
applications for licensed premises and any subject matter that is liquor
license related.
PURPOSE
Pensionfund Properties Ltd., is requesting a Council resolution
endorsing a Class 'C' Cabaret and Class 'B' Restaurant liquor license at
870 Granville Street.
BACKGROUND
The Commodore Cabaret at 870 Granville Street was constructed in 1930,
and has continued operation until the present time. This premise has
been issued a rare dual liquor license for a Class 'C' Cabaret and a
Class 'B' Restaurant. Commodore Cabaret Ltd., the license holder, could
operate from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. as a restaurant, and from 7:00 p.m.
to 2:00 a.m. as a cabaret. Both of these licenses expire on October 31,
1996.
The applicant, who is the owner of the property, states that the owner
and operator of the cabaret has allowed the lease to expire. This
operator, Commodore Cabaret Ltd., who owns and controls the liquor
licenses, has a 90 day lease extension and is attempting to sell the
business. The building owner is concerned that if a sale should not be
realized, Pensionfund Properties would have no right to a transfer and
would require a new license application, which could result in a period
of shutdown.
The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) requires a Council
resolution commenting on this application before it will consider a new
liquor license application from the property owners.
DISCUSSION
The Commodore Ballroom is in a building listed as an 'A' in the
Vancouver Heritage Register, and is considered an important part of the
Granville Street entertainment area. While the City cannot be involved
in the business affairs between a landlord and tenant, general support
for the use of the premise as a cabaret may assist in the continuation
of this use.
Planning Department staff note that the exterior and ground floor of the
building have recently been restored. These improvements, combined with
the long history of the cabaret on Theatre Row, and the heritage
character of the building, are consistent with Council's vision of this
portion of Granville Street as an entertainment district, and with the
efforts to revitalize the street in general.
Comments from the LCLB indicate that the existing licenses could be
transferred if the current licensee agreed. Should the lease expire,
the license would be cancelled and the building owner would then be
eligible for its own license. However, the Branch would not be
obligated to issue a combined license, and in all likelihood, the
applicant will have to choose between a 'B' or 'C' Class license.
CONCLUSION
Council support for the continuation of a cabaret at 870 Granville
Street may help to preserve this important entertainment use on
Granville Street.
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