There have been many questions surrounding the Habitat for the past few months. Is Habitat going to close? Do they have their liquor license yet? Or even: What is Habitat?

Having worked at Habitat for just over a year now, I have seen the special events venue go through many changes and struggles.

Ever since owner Quinn Best opened the doors in 2005, Habitat has fallen into a bit of a grey zone.

Habitat operated as a banquet hall for two years before receiving a food primary license in 2007 followed by a Patron Participation Endorsement, which basically meant that patrons were able to dance and that they could leave their seats with their drinks.

Soon enough, this proved to not be the right kind of license for Habitat. Currently, when people come in to the Habitat, their main focus after entering the building should be on food.

Now, I know our grilled cheeses are better than the way your mom used to make them, but I don’t expect anyone to come into Habitat solely for food.

On the same page, I don’t expect anyone to come into Habitat solely to drink. When people come to Habitat, it’s to attend a special event or to see live music; the factors of eating and enjoying some drinks are added perks.

So why do we have to be either food primary or liquor primary? The answer to that is because there is currently no type of licensing in place that would allow Habitat to run as a licensed special events centre.

Ever since the venue’s public hearing in front of city council in November 2009, council has been going back and forth adding restrictions, rewording, and maybe even re-rewording the building’s zoning changes.

As of right now, if Habitat was to be granted a liquor primary license here are the things that could change:

• Capacity would be increased from 133 to about 225
• Hours of liquor sales would increase by half an hour (from 11 a.m. to midnight, to 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
• Minors endorsement would be eliminated
• Venue would only be open when specific events/concerts are booked.

That’s it! Our main focus will not turn to making a profit off of liquor sales, we will not close the kitchen, and Habitat will not turn into a nightclub.

Anyone who has been to the venue knows that Habitat is different from any other liquor primary establishment in the downtown of Kelowna.

It has been a long haul, and yes, we are tired. This has been a very long process for everyone at Habitat—if it wasn’t for the dedication of the employees and the affirmation that we have something really worth fighting for, then, and only then, would Habitat shut its doors.

We love what we do at Habitat! We love that Habitat is a place in Kelowna where different groups of all ages can come and have a unique cultural experience.

Habitat has been a part of Kelowna for almost five years now and has been a part of my life for two years. I sometimes stop and wonder what Kelowna would be like if Habitat wasn’t around.

Just stop and think about the impact that it would have on a growing city like Kelowna, a city that needs to start catering a bit more to the youth and young adults, if special events venues were to be closed down because they couldn’t operate properly under their city-granted licenses. » Read More