For nearly 25 years, Whistler's Citta Bistro has been a perfect place for a pint after a day of skiing or snowboarding.
Smack dab in the center of Village Square, the spot occupied by Citta is easy to find, and likely some of the most valuable storefront in Whistler Village.
But the landmark pub is facing an uncertain future. After being in business 25 years, the restaurant's lease runs out in three months. Workers don't know if the landlord will renew it.
"We haven't heard yes or no so far," says manager Scott Gadsby.
Gadsby has heard there are other high end businesses vying for the spot. So with only 90 days to go, he's desperately trying to tug on heartstrings and pressure his landlord -- Burrard International Holdings.
He is sending out a plea for customers to send in their sentimental stories about the memories of time spent in the Citta.
The pub is organizing a 25th anniversary party, to both celebrate and save what Gadsby calls a Whistler Institution, He's encouraging patrons to sign a petition.
"We don't have enough of old local Whistler and this is old, local Whistler for sure," says patron Dion Brisson.
CTV contacted the landlord by phone. The executive vice-president confirmed the company is exploring options. He would not say what those options might be, but acknowledged the location is an important corner, and said that if they made any changes it would "enhance" the village.
It's a term that's become all too familiar to those who live here, as the village prepares to welcome the world.
"You see a lot of things change around here for sure, especially anticipating the Olympics," says Josh Fairbrother. "But the social atmosphere here is something you can't find anywhere else."
Whether Citta Bistro will be around to compete for customers in 2010 will likely be decided sometime in early 2009.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Sarah Galashan
