A food truck operating in Steveston got a reprieve from Richmond city council to look for a new location.
Richmond council was considering cancelling the business licence for Shameless Buns saying they were contravening a bylaw by operating in a parking lot in Steveston.
At the end of the hearing on Monday afternoon, however, council voted unanimously to ask city staff to work with the owners of the food truck, Corvette Romero and Matt Brennan, to find a suitable location to sell their Filipino cuisine, possibly in Terra Nova.
Coun. Alexa Loo said it’s “reasonable” to allow the owners and staff to look for a new location.
“I think we’re hoping for something that is fair and still creates opportunities in Richmond and doesn’t seem as heavy-handed as just cancelling business licences,” she added.
If council had cancelled their business licence, it would have affected both their business in the parking lot of Steveston Hub and in an industrial area off Knight Street.
In addition to Shameless Buns, Salty’s Lobster Shack was asked to relocate. Salty’s has relocated to Britannia Heritage Shipyards, but Romero and Brennan didn’t want to operate there, saying it was a “ghost town.”
Shameless Buns was also offered Branscombe House as a location, but they didn’t feel that was suitable.
While Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie supported aff working with the operators to find a new location, he said that it's not a sign council doesn't have “strong feelings” on the issue.
“Had the applicant spoken to staff in a constructive manner before, this could have probably been ironed out by this time,” Brodie added.
After the meeting, the owners said they’d be disappointed to leave Steveston Hub – they pay $250 to the non-profit co-working place every time they’re there – but if they were offered relocation to Terra Nova, they would likely move there.
The item will be back in front of council next week on Tuesday.
