Photo: Jon Manchester

The owner of a Vernon nightclub says he doesn't know when it will be feasible to open again given B.C.'s pandemic restrictions and the introduction of vaccine passports.

Saverio Loria says he had been waiting for the province to move to Stage 4 of reopening the economy after Labour Day.

Instead, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry kept B.C. at Stage 3 and brought in vaccine passports that now must be shown to enter non-essential establishments like pubs, restaurants and theatres as proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

Status Nightclub has been closed for more than a year and a half.

"I'm still closed," Loria said Monday. "I don't think I'd be set up for success, reopening now. We're still in Phase 3, with no dancing, no mingling."

Loria said he doesn't know how much longer he can wait as the financial hit piles up.

"If I were to open, and I'm letting people in who are vaccinated, why can't they dance?" he asked.

"I don't have the answer ... it just doesn't make sense to reopen now."

Loria said he's spoken to others in the industry who are also suffering.

"We just don't know when or if the province will make another announcement," he said.

In July, Loria was eagerly anticipating reopening this fall, but the anticipated Stage 4 never came.

At the time, he said: "With no dancing, no mingling ... for me, that is not a good nightlife experience."