Vancouver’s Rio Theatre frustrated at ongoing closure as churches set to reopen

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — It looks like Vancouver’s iconic Rio Theatre will be staying as a sports bar for the foreseeable future, as the province still has not given the green light for movie theatres to reopen.

It’s something that has CEO Corinne Lea, very frustrated, especially considering the province is looking at relaxing restrictions for religious gatherings in the coming weeks.

“I mean, the marquee says right now, ‘I can’t believe we’re still a sports bar,’ and that’s because here we are months later,” says Lea. “We thought becoming a sports bar would prove that their reasoning was not based on science and safety, and yet months later, we’re still a sports bar.”

Lea switched the theatre into a sports bar in January after provincial health orders saw movie theatres shuttered, but has maintained she desperately wants to be allowed to change back.

RELATED: Vancouver’s Rio Theatre to temporarily reopen as sports bar amid pandemic restrictions

Lea says the province’s plan just doesn’t make sense.

“They made a mistake when they closed theatres by putting us into this ‘events’ category, instead of treating us like a real business,” says Lea. “We’re a business, just like restaurants and bars, and we should be able to open, and operate safely just like they are.”

Bonnie Henry announced plans to reopen Churches. But still no mention of arts venues. Meanwhile they doubled our seating at @RioTheatre as soon as we became a sports bar. Yet cinemas remain closed. So don’t tell me this is about safety & science. @charliesmithvcr @richardzussman

— Corinne Lea (@Shamelesslee) March 15, 2021

She’s also wondering why a bar is considered safer to open than a movie theatre.

“It’s pretty frustrating to see as soon as we became a sports bar, the health authority doubled our seating,” says Lea. “Theaters are only allowed 50 seats max, sports bars are allowed to have their capacity based on social distancing, so we were able to double our seating. So, don’t tell me this is about safety and science.”

RELATED: Owner of Rio Theatre says B.C. restaurant industry gets special treatment under COVID-19

She also tells NEWS 1130 that she isn’t getting any consultation time with the province.

“I think some of our lobbying groups have gotten responses, but nothing significant, not like the kind of consultation that the churches and restaurant and bar association are getting,” says Lea.

Lea feels lucky the Rio was able to pivot to a sports bar to keep the doors open, but says the business is still taking a major hit.

“We’re probably only doing about 13-percent of our normal revenue,” says Lea. “It’s pretty minimal. At this point, it just gives our staff and customers something to do, but it’s certainly not a long-term answer. We need to get back to doing what we love, and what the public wants us to do.”

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry ordered movie theatres closed during the height of the pandemic last year, then relaxed restrictions briefly in the summer, only to close them again in November in a bid to stop the spread of the virus.