An Alexandra Road restaurant wants to change to a liquor primary establishment and offer karaoke, both in private rooms and onstage.
Spark Kitchen + Bar is currently a food primary establishment, offering eats until 2 a.m.
The restaurant is asking Richmond city council to support its liquor-primary application, which also needs approval from the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.
A city staff report notes the location was a liquor primary place from 1996 to 2019.
If approved, food would be served from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and minors would be allowed until 10 p.m.
The city staff report notes there are six liquor-primary establishments within a 500-metre radius of Spark, but there are no schools, parks or other public buildings within this distance.
They don’t expect any extra noise if the licence is approved.
Last year, the owner of Zodiac Karaoke, also on Alexandra Road, asked city council to extend the hours of karaoke bars in Richmond.
City staff looked into the issue and told city council, a few months later, they didn’t recommend extending hours, citing “the potential for increased neighbourhood conflict and related community safety issues.”
City council voted unanimously to not change karaoke establishment hours in Richmond.
Spark's application is on the agenda for next Monday's city council committee meeting.
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