We apologize sincerely to all of you who have come to the store over the past week only to find notices on the window saying we are closed. Likewise to all of you who have called our delivery hotline only to get the same message.
To all our loyal customers, both locals and visitors, we wanted to take this opportunity to give you an update and explanation as to why the Nesters Liquor Store is temporarily closed, and share our plans to open again soon.
On Jan. 15, the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) in Victoria requested that we suspend the operation of the store due to issues relating to the former Boot Pub that our liquor license is connected to.
The former Boot Pub has a Liquor Primary (LP) License and our store operates under a Beer and Wine License that is attached to that Liquor Primary. Under LCLB regulations the Liquor Primary (pub) needs to be “open and operating” in order for our store to be open as well.
Since the Boot Pub was closed and the building demolished in 2007, we have been actively working with planners at the RMOW to find an alternate location for the Pub License in Whistler. However, because there are restrictions on opening any new pubs or bars in the village this has limited our options to relocate the license. Currently, we have a deal in place with the owners/developers of Rainbow to move the LP to that site for the neighbourhood pub that is zoned there. Unfortunately, this solution did not satisfy the LCLB because the pub will not be open and operating for some time.
We would like to point out that as a small, locally-owned business we have been given great support from all the planners we have dealt with in trying to resolve this issue, and are very grateful for their time and efforts to help us reopen as quickly as possible.
As a result of this, we are working closely with another license owner who is considering taking our LP license to replace their own. This is the quickest way for us to reopen and a solution that satisfies both the RMOW and LCLB. If we can successfully complete this transfer of our LP license it will give us the ability to stay in business, reopen, retain our awesome staff (who we are continuing to pay full wages and salaries), pay our lease and continue to serve our customers at Nesters.
Thank you for all your business and support in the past. Please be patient, we will be back soon!