Vancouver outdoor bar closes, citing city permitting process
A beloved outdoor bar in Vancouver's Chinatown that was born due to the COVID-19 pandemic has closed.
The Keefer Yard – an offshoot of The Keefer Bar – announced its closure on Instagram Friday, saying it had been "unsuccessful in landing the permit" it needed from the city to remain open.
"The Keefer Yard was created during COVID as an outdoor space where people could safely still visit their friends," the post reads. "It brought a feeling of normalcy during a dizzying time. It helped The Keefer Bar stay alive when indoor dining centres were forced to close."
Built in an alley, the bar was improved over time with murals by local artists painted on the walls and a mini-golf course installed, proceeds from which were donated to charity.
"A staff base was hired who has since become a very tight social group," the post continues. "For winter we transformed The Yard into a weather proof venue. A tall shelter was built, which allowed airflow from the perimeter so that we could keep guests dry but still offer fresh air during COVID. It was something special."
In a statement, the City of Vancouver said its staff has been working with the operator of The Keefer Yard since early 2021 on its application for a development permit for the covered patio.
The city said it was not a rejection of a permit that forced the bar to close, but rather an inspection by Vancouver Fire Rescue Service.
"On Friday of last week, VFRS conducted an inspection of the property and issued an order to discontinue cooking and use of space heaters in the temporary structure," the city said. "Those activities posed a serious and immediate risk of fire and the operator had previously been issued multiple notices of violation."
On the matter of the building permit, the city said it advised the business "early in the process" that the temporary structure at the site did not comply with the city's building bylaw. The city also claimed that staff had met with The Keefer Yard as recently as earlier this month to try to resolve the issue.
"The order from the fire chief only pertained to the fire hazards," the city said. "Had the operator opted to comply with those requirements, they could have continued to operate the patio while pursuing a resolution of the building bylaw issues."
The Keefer Bar remains open.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.