A new lounge area for a Richmond distillery is close to getting final approval from the city.
Deep Blue Distilleries on Cedarbridge Way, between Elmbridge Way and Lansdowne Road, has applied to the city to add a lounge that would allow them to serve up to 30 people at a time.
The gin and vodka distillery is also asking to extend its liquor service hours to midnight all week long.
None of Richmond city council spoke against the proposal at Monday, July 7's general purposes committee meeting.
The lounge has already passed building inspections and has been checked by Richmond RCMP and Richmond Fire-Rescue, said Mark Corrado, director of community bylaws and licencing at the City of Richmond.
He added the structural floor plan still needs approval from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, but he doesn't expect any issues.
The distillery, co-owned by Acumen lawyers Kyla Lee and Paul Doroshenko, has been operating as a storefront offering half-ounce tastings since opening last summer.
They said the lounge will give them a chance to fully showcase their gin and vodka in cocktails.
"It will allow people more of a... diverse array of tasting and trying," said Lee.
She told the Richmond News the lounge could open within a few weeks if it receives final approval.
"Everything is set up for it — the tables, space and the bar. As soon as we're able to hire a bartender, we will be able to get it going right away," said Lee.
"We've developed a bunch of new products, so we're going to have really cool cocktails available."
The application is expected to come to Richmond city council for final approval on Monday, July 14.
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