Rickshaw Theatre’s fate decided this Thursday

D.O.A. at the Rickshaw Theatre, June 4 2011. Jordana Meilleur photo

The Rickshaw Theatre fights for its life

- by Shawn Conner

This Thursday, June 16, Vancouver city council will review the Rickshaw Theatre’s application for a permanent liquor licence. If the application is not approved, Rickshaw owner David Duprey may have to close the 500-capacity East Hastings venue, which hosts local and touring bands and special events.

The theatre has been operating on temporary, province-granted special-events permits since opening two years ago.

“When I first set this up, I talked to city staff about licensing and building,” said Duprey, who leases the 42-year-old space and has invested $70,000 in the space.

“We had a bunch of meetings and came to an understanding. They were specific that they didn’t want me to get a liquor license, but to use special permits instead. That was the way they felt it would be the best way to operate. At the time I didn’t expect to get a liquor license.”

But the province stepped in about a year ago, says Duprey, and wanted to put a stop to the special permits. Normally, the permits are meant to be used for one-off events like weddings and not for money-making ventures.

The province allowed Duprey to continue operating with special permits until city council could review his application. The city expedited the review process, says Duprey.

He says that at least some members of city council are sympathetic. At the same time, there are those who don’t want to see the license go through, said Duprey.

“There are a lot anti-liquor people and some neighbourhood people who don’t want this to go through. CCAP, the Carnegie Community Action Project, has said they didn’t want people from outside the neighbourhood coming into the Downtown Eastside, that they don’t want liquor sold after 11. That basically they don’t want the Downtown Eastside to change. I don’t know if they’re going to be there [at the council meeting] or not, but ‘No Fun City’ is alive and well.” (CCAP’s Wendy Pedersen had not returned our call at press-time.)

If the application is turned down, Duprey is not going to go peacefully, but plans to keep serving alcohol until he is forced to shut down.

“It’s 2011,” he said. “This whole conversation is dumb. Just to be having it is asinine. This is a statement that’s gotta be made. If they turn us down, it’s a big deal.” It’s not just the Rickshaw, notes Duprey – the Rio Theatre is also applying for a liquor license, which he says is worth $1,000 per seat in part because they are so hard to get.

“I grew up here,” added Duprey. “Vancouver’s gotta get better, or it’s just going to turn into a retirement home for Americans.”

You can fill out the Rickshaw’s online petition here.

You can read more about Carnegie Community Action project here.

The Mountain Goats at the Rickshaw Theatre, 2010. Robyn Hanson photo