The Outabounds night club has taken another step towards reopening its doors under new ownership. There are several drinking establishments in town, but the First Street West club is Revelstoke's only proper night club venue.
On Feb. 12, city council lent their support to an application by the ‘Revelstoke Motor Inn’ (the legal name of the Regent Inn) to transfer a liquor license from the Traverse night club to the Outabounds night club on First Street West.
Regent General Manager Brady Beruschi explained the hotel is closing their Traverse lounge permanently and plans to expand their banquet room into the space. They want to operate Outabounds using that licence.
The old liquor licence for the Outabounds club was terminated after the building was foreclosed upon in early 2011. The club was subject to many rumours when it closed unexpectedly, and Revelstoke RCMP confirmed at the time they’d launched a criminal investigation.
At a Feb. 12 hearing, Roberta Bobicki of the Revelstoke Credit Union supported the application. The credit union owns the building. She noted the credit union had taken “its largest loss in history” following the implosion of the business under former owners. Bobicki noted the new owners had extensive experience with liquor-primary businesses.
There weren’t any formal submissions against the licence transfer during the public process. Several wrote in support.
Beruschi explained he plans to operate the club a few nights a week, depending on demand. He said the winter would be peak season.
He said the club would employ about 20 or more people.
The club had been completely renovated a couple years before it closed. Beruschi said he was ready to open at the start of January, but is still awaiting approval.
Council’s approval of the liquor licence transfer is key, but the final decision rests with the provincial Liquor Control and Licencing Branch.