Vancouver’s Rio Theatre to temporarily reopen as sports bar amid pandemic restrictions
Posted January 19, 2021 5:52 pm.
Last Updated January 20, 2021 10:25 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Out of frustration with the province’s refusal to allow movie theatres to reopen, a new marquee at the front of Vancouver’s Rio Theatre reads, “Screw the Arts. We’re a Sports Bar now.”
Corinne Lea owns the Rio and says she has been so frustrated with the province since B.C.’s health restrictions have seen the theatre shuttered since November. So, they had to think of some way to stay afloat.
Out of frustration with the province’s refusal to allow movie theatres to reopen, a new marquee at the front of Vancouver’s @RioTheatre reads, “Screw the Arts. We’re a Sports Bar now.” https://t.co/FMQkBEKxv9 pic.twitter.com/2IBfREWL8e
— CityNews 1130 Vancouver (Inactive) (@news1130) January 20, 2021
“We decided that because nothing’s going to change until February 5 and we see people playing the sporting events all over town — if you can’t beat them, join them,” she says. “So we’re we’ve decided to become a real sports bar, and we’re going to be open daily with sports playing on our big screen.”
Another day, another marquee… Open daily 3:30 pm – 10:00 pm starting this Saturday, January 23. Catch the big game on…
Posted by The Rio Theatre on Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Lea says she feels that movie theatres have been miscategorized by the province and have been lumped in with events and social gatherings instead of being treated like a bar or restaurant.
“We should be able to operate just like bars and restaurants because we are a controlled environment that is very safe. I don’t want to be open as a sports bar, but I’ve been given no choice. I would much rather open a cinema. But [I] guess we’ll be the safest sports bar in town because we’ve got so much room for everyone to spread out.”
RELATED: Owner of Rio Theatre says B.C. restaurant industry gets special treatment under COVID-19
Lea has been asking for a meeting with the province to discuss reopening movie theatres and says that request is under review, but there’s no word on when they’ll get an answer.
“Being closed has definitely been very stressful, both psychologically, emotionally, financially. Everyone’s just downright depressed and kind of losing hope. So we’re really hoping that the health minister here’s our pleas.”
You can catch the big games at the Rio Sports Bar starting Saturday.
