Popular Vancouver Eatery Falls Victim To HST And BC's Liquor Laws

Call issued on compassionate and humanitarian grounds

Town Hall at 1032 Alberni Street, one of Downtown Vancouver's most popular eateries and watering joints, has closed down for business. Town Hall was a favourite among downtown's after work crowd. Its spacious atmosphere and friendly service built a regular clientele over the years. Town Hall was operated by Earl's Restaurants, another Vancouver favourite among casual eateries.

A bartender that used to work there part-time said the business, and tips, started to suffer after the BC Government enacted HST, the hated Harmonised Sales Tax that led to a province-wide referendum and recall campaign and the resignation of Premier Gordon Campbell as leader of the BC Liberals. He said the liquor laws was the nail on the coffin, driving down liquor sales by almost 50-percent. In 2010 BC Liberals toughened liquor laws and penalties for diriving under influence, reducing the blood alcohol limit to 0.05 percent. This means that a glass of wine or beer could result in an automatic suspension of license and seizure of the vehicle.

Earl's Restaurants management could not be reached for comment or confirmation, and have not returned calls.

Town Hall was home to the legendary (the legend is mine)  Taiwan-style charbroiled chicken wings and special sauce, and has produced many addicts in the downtown area. A call has been issued on compassionate and humanitarian grounds to report any other source for this unique delicacy.