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Popular Richmond wine bar closes due to COVID

One of Steveston’s more popular evening haunts has closed its doors permanently
porthole
David da Silva, owner of The Porthole, was featured in the Richmond News in May, asking for relaxed rules around serving alcohol. File photo by Maria Rantanen/Richmond News

One of Steveston’s more popular evening haunts has closed its doors permanently.

The Porthole – off No. 1 Road, between Moncton and Bayview streets – announced on Facebook earlier this week that it had to close due to the pandemic restrictions.

The 30-seater wine bar had been a relative hit in the village since it opened in early 2018, with regular live entertainment.

The Porthole was one of the first in the village to re-open after the pandemic struck, setting up tables in its parking lot to adhere to physical distancing rules.

porthole-stevestonPhoto: Porthole Steveston/Facebook

The owners posted on Facebook that they had closed the doors with “great sadness” and referred to their bar as a “labour of love for us.”

They added that it was an “absolute thrill to see our concept come to life and share it with our likeminded guests.

“It was a joy to see our customers smile, sing along and dance to the live music, laugh with the comedians, and get down and dirty with the drag queens.

“Our aim was to save you a long commute downtown by adding a little nightlife in the village.

“A full year of back-to-back sold out comedy shows proved to us that others felt the same way.  Our small community bonded and got to know each other better. Sadly due to Covid, it has become a challenge for us to continue.”

Read more from the Richmond News