There's a Glitch coming to Victoria's downtown landscape.
Once occupied by the bustling Yates Street Taphouse, 759 Yates St., which has sat vacant for nearly two years, is one step closer to becoming a retro arcade bar.
Vancouver-based Glitch Bar and Games Room is looking to expand into Victoria and council gave it the green light for a liquor licence on Nov. 20. Now, it needs a final stamp of approval from the province.
"This is the exact type of business that we need downtown in Victoria," Coun. Matt Dell said. "When the Yates Street Taphouse closed, that area of the block has been dead for the last two years without that restaurant there. We are desperate to get these kinds of spaces filled in the city, so I'm really thankful that these guys have offered to come over."
Glitch is known for its nostalgic interior, offering a '90s and 2000s-themed bar and games room. The bar would have a 275-person occupant load and hours of licensed service from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
Victoria staff sent a notification to 789 owners and occupants within 100 metres of the licensed location and received eight letters of support and four letters of opposition.
Coun. Marg Gardiner was the only councillor to vote against the motion.
"Entertainment areas can and should be livable for residents who live nearby or even in the same building. There's no soundproofing in the building that I can understand," she said. "Two a.m. I think is just too, too long."
Mayor Marianne Alto expressed her support.
"I think there's been an established, similar - although, perhaps not quite as exciting or diverse - establishment here for many, many years, and certainly during that time there have been residents upstairs and nearby. That previous establishment was open just half an hour less than this proposal, so I'm quite comfortable with this being there," she said.