After Richmond city council supported a liquor licence for Spark Kitchen + Bar on Alexandra Road just over a week ago, a new recommendation from city staff is to press the brakes on the application.
This was after city staff found the owner of Spark had previously run a karaoke establishment in Burnaby that was shut down by the City of Burnaby after several liquor licence violations.
Richmond city staff say, in a report going to next week’s committee meeting, that they conducted an “expanded investigation” after questions were posed by city councillors about the company’s history in other jurisdictions.
Spark Kitchen + Bar, currently a food-primary restaurant, applied to the city to become a liquor-primary establishment with karaoke in private rooms and onstage with a capacity of 150 patrons.
According to the Richmond city staff report, Yan Zhang owned Solo Karaoke on Kingsway, just west of Gilley Avenue, under a different corporation.
There were nine complaints to Burnaby city staff about Solo’s operations, with claims of alcohol consumption, smoking as well as noise complaints.
As part of the Burnaby investigation, it was found the owner applied for a special event licence to serve liquor, but as it turns out, they were selling liquor instead of just serving it as their licence required.
A Burnaby police report notes that, on Dec. 30, 2022, Solo Karaoke didn’t have a liquor licence, and its staff “denied serving any liquor.”
However, further investigation showed patrons had bought liquor at Solo.
“Patrons told police that 10 minutes before police entered the business they were asked to hide the beer bottles and cans,” reads the Burnaby police report. “Once confronted again staff admitted to selling alcohol.”
Police also allege they found “large amounts of disposable unstamped vape products” for sale as well as “a large quantity of unopened beer and hard liquor.”
The complaint was passed on to the Burnaby city bylaws department.
Solo Karaoke's licence was revoked in 2023, and an appeal to Burnaby city council failed to reverse this decision.
Richmond city staff say the owner of Spark Kitchen + Bar is the same as the owner of Solo Karaoke.
“This past conduct by the business owner demonstrates a history of non-compliance with federal and provincial legislation and municipal bylaws and has put the public at risk,” reads the Richmond city staff report, signed by the director of community bylaw and business licensing Mark Corrado.
“Accordingly, under these circumstances and for this reason, it would be appropriate to recommend to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch that the application by Spark Karaoke Ltd. should be rejected.”
The Richmond News reached out to Spark Kitchen + Bar but didn't hear back before publication.
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