Nanaimo鈥檚 Koncept Nightclub was blasted on social media after announcing it is opening this weekend but one of its owners said there will be no dancing and that B.C.鈥檚 safety rules will be followed.
No more than 50 people will be allowed in the club, co-owner Sebastian Barkovic said Tuesday.
Koncept will likely open Saturday and after that on Fridays and Saturdays, he said.
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is not allowing nightclubs to open but Barkovic said he is in the midst of re-purposing the space so that patrons can sit and listen to music.
The business holds a liquor primary licence, which means it can operate as a lounge, he said.
Koncept normally has a DJ playing hip-hop music, which will continue along with more R and B tunes, Barkovic said. 鈥淲e are probably going to cut the decibels down by half.鈥�
Other clubs have taken similar measures in order to keep operating, he said.
Pubs and restaurants were allowed to open in late May provided they followed rules which include limiting the number of people sitting together and physical distancing requirements.
Barkovic welcomed the province鈥檚 decision to permit bars to buy alcohol at wholesale prices into 2021 to help offset reduced revenues resulting from the pandemic. This will 鈥渉elp with the bottom line,鈥� he said, adding that it may allow Koncept to drop prices to help attract customers.
The club鈥檚 announcement of its reopening elicited more than 400 comments on Facebook, many negative, saying it is too early to re-open because of the pandemic.
Many assumed that the club would operate as usual with dancing. One comment said, 鈥淲ay too soon.鈥�
However, another said, 鈥� Make Nanaimo Fun Again! Thanks for employing people, paying taxes, and bringing back joy.鈥�
Barkovic said one of the owners is Black and 鈥淲e had one person say, 鈥楪o hang yourself.鈥� 鈥� He assumed the writer did not know that but said people commenting need be aware they are talking to another person, he said. 鈥淎 business is not a faceless entity.鈥�
He said he has been talking to Island Health, Worksafe B.C. and provincial liquor offices about opening plans.
Two 2.4 metre long tables are being built to create seating on the dance floor, he said. The seating plan is still being worked out but there are booths in the space, along with possible seating at counters.
Glow-in-the-dark paint will help direct people inside the club.
About 10 of the 30 employees are being called back, Barkovic said.
WorkSafe B.C.鈥檚 website outlines how to develop COVID-19 safety plans for different sectors. 鈥淏usinesses must make this plan publicly available. In addition, the safety plan would be subject to review during a WorkSafe B.C. inspection,鈥� said WorkSafe spokesperson Ivy Yuen.
