(JULIE WHITTET / iNFOnews.ca)
June 17, 2013 - 9:55 AM
A new entertainment venue on Lawrence Avenue in downtown Kelowna wants to raise the bar on the minimum age of its patrons.
The developer of 'The Mixing Room' is seeking a liquor licence permitting only those 25 and older to pass through its doors.
The kitchen and bar venue would operate at a capacity of 250 people and is described as an upscale Blenz-style cafe lounge also offering microbrews and local wines to a 'mature' crowd.
Mayor Walter Gray says it won't be your average nightclub. The company DV8 Entertainment says The Mixing Room's range of beverage, dining and entertainment options will make it the first of its kind for the city.
Land use manager Danielle Noble says the project will help revitalize the Lawrence Avenue portion of downtown and won't compete with any other large liquor establishments in the area.
Counc. Luke Stack agreed the restaurant-bar will bring a more attractive ambiance.
"It's a part of town we've really been wanting to see new businesses going in," he says.
Counc. Andre Blanleil also shared his excitement for the project but wants to see it go one step further with an improvment of the building's street front.
“If you're gonna do something like this than do it right,” he says. An ugrade to the building's facade on Lawrence Avenue would not only help revive the street but also add to the success of the business, he says.
The applicant hasn't yet come forward with any facade designs but the proposal will go to a public hearing on July 2.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013