Nightclub owner gets second shot

A BC Supreme Court judge has ordered the the BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch to review its decision regarding Kelowna’s Liquid Zoo nightclub.

The Liquid Zoo was owned by Dave Habib. In 2005, he made a deal to sell the nightclub for $550,000 on the condition the liquor licence transfer to the new owners was approved.

The BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch took four years to deny the transfer, resulting in the Liquid Zoo closing down in October 2009.

The Licensing Branch ruled against the license transfer because a man named Damian Dipopolo was associated to the nightclub. Dipopolo is a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, a known criminal organization. Dipopolo was later bought out by his two partners.

The Branch also had concerns about the lack of documentation and money trail concerning the business sale.

The judge ruled the licensing agency must rethink its decision

If Habib is successful in winning his appeal, he says he will re-open the Liquid Zoo this spring.