The owner of the Cowboy Ranch is setting out to prove he's not alone in wanting his business to expand.
Brock Gable has applied to increase his pub's seat count by 188 to bring the total allowed occupant load to 258 seats now that the retail liquor store is gone. The business, at 2595 Queensway, is also asking to change the hours of liquor service to 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Currently, the earliest liquor be served at the location is 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday and until 1 a.m. at the latest on Fridays and Saturdays.
A public hearing that was put on hold last week will resume tonight at 7 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.
The planning department has recommended council turn down the application, citing its non conformity with the city's liquor license policy, which prefers similar establishments to have less than 125 seats if they're located outside the central business district.
The increased hours of liquor service were also frowned upon by staff due to previously received complaints about noise and patrons and staff smoking near the rear of the building.
But Gable, who previously owned the Tabor Arms Pub and Riverstone Bar and Grill, said the industry is changing and that the 65-seat pub model is dying out.
Alcohol consumption is decreasing and rules about driving under the influence and over serving are more stringent, Gable said.
"As a simple example, in the past one customer may drink five drinks; we now need five seats because our customers often only have one drink each," Gable wrote in a letter to council.
Cowboy Ranch has also had to turn away fundraising events because they could not accommodate the required attendees.
Gable also pointed to other venues around the city, outside the downtown core, that have been allowed to circumvent the city liquor licence policy. These included Shooters Pub on Ospika Boulevard (175 seats), Alpine Pub on South Kelly Road (132 seats), College Heights Pub (154 seats) and the now-defunct Riverstone Bar and Grill that was on 15th Avenue (160 seats).
"I am not asking for anything more than what most licensees already have," Gable wrote.
There is mixed support from the neighbourhood and community at large. Prior to last week's first attempt at a public hearing, letters and a 48-signature petition were submitted opposing the application.
As part of his submission to council, Gable turned in more than 200 letters of support from both the immediate vicinity and the surrounding area, including a handful from those who had previously signed the petition opposing the plan.
