Romer’s Burger Bar wants a bigger space at one of its Vancouver locations.

The establishment plans to expand its footprint in the River District, where it operates out of a neighbourhood centre.

Thrive Advisors filed a development permit application on behalf of Romer’s, which asks for permission change the use of a portion of 8683 Kerr Street from community centre to restaurant.

The current restaurant has a capacity of 68 people inside, and 32 people on the exterior patio.

A letter by Thrive Advisors’ Rebecca Hardin to the City of Vancouver explained that the expansion will lead to a new space of 5,813.3 square feet.

The expanded space will have a total capacity of 150 people for all areas, including six to eight servers and employees on the floor at any given time.

Hardin stated that the COVID-19 pandemic was “extremely challenging operationally with the sites limited capacities”.

“It become clear to operators that by adding a larger footprint of space, they can continue to maintain socially distant guidelines and guests remain relaxed within the casual dinning environment,” Hardin noted.

Chef Jim Romer started Romer’s in 2010.

The restaurant prides itself in offering daily ground and hand pressed burgers.

As in previous years, Georgia Straight readers voted Romer’s Burger Bar for best burger in the paper’s 23^rd annual Golden Plates in 2020.

Romer’s has two other locations in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood and Port Moody.

City hall will accept comments from the public about the expansion plan until September 2.