Corduroy Restaurant's liquor licence suspended after defying health orders

The City of Vancouver has now suspended the liquor licence of Corduroy Restaurant, Daily Hive has confirmed.

The Kitsilano restaurant also had its business licence suspended on Monday, a suspension that followed Closure Orders from Vancouver Coastal Health for failing to comply with PHO orders.

Corduroy Restaurant will remain closed from now until April 20, 2021, a date that coincides with the province’s ordered suspension of indoor dining for all BC restaurants.

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth gave a statement regarding the liquor licence suspension via email.

“Any business or individual that openly defies a Public Health Officer order is putting the health of staff and patrons at risk,” he said.

“Harassment of enforcement officials will not be tolerated, and closure orders by Vancouver Coastal Health or any other authority must be respected. There most certainly will be consequences for those openly ignoring and defying orders that are intended to keep British Columbians safe.”

Farnworth is referring to video footage shared on Facebook that shows the inside of Corduroy on Saturday, filled with people. Two health inspectors from VCH speak to one of the restaurant’s owners, who tells them that they are “trespassing on [her] private property.”

Patrons inside the restaurant repeatedly chant “get out!” until the two inspectors leave.

The Vancouver Police Department told Daily Hive no arrests or tickets were issued by police regarding that incident.

The VPD Liquor Coordinator attended Corduroy with Vancouver Coastal Health in response to several complaints.

“The Provincial Health authorities will seek further action as they see fit. We will continue to assist under their direction,” said the VPD.

• See also: 
  • Patrons shout at inspectors inside restaurant defying health orders (VIDEO)
  • Restaurants that broke indoor dining ban “selfish, arrogant, and irresponsible”: BCRFA
  • “Pushy, rude” out-of-town patrons prompt BC restaurant owner to shutter during long

On Monday, Mayor Kennedy Stewart spoke out about the situation and said the “harassment and bullying” behaviour of these restaurant owners was “completely unacceptable.”

“I think the whole country was aghast at the behaviour of these restaurant owners who openly defied public health orders in the face of rising case counts and the spread of variants,” he said in a statement.

“The hospitality industry has done an exceptional job at keeping their workers and customers safe and I want to recognize those that have continued to follow public health orders.”

BC’s “circuit breaker” emergency restrictions were announced at the end of March and were implemented to curb a surging number of COVID-19 cases.

The three-week restrictions will be in place until April 19, 2021, and include a ban on indoor dining, forcing restaurants in the province to pivot once again.

With files from Vincent Plana