In Comeback, Norman's Restaurant is Applying for a Liquor License

If you're keeping your fingers crossed that Norman's Restaurant is coming back to Main Street, keep them crossed — the Town Council on Monday will consider a motion to approve a Class BV liquor license.

And the applicant is none other than Norman's Restaurant of 155-159 Main St.

The hearing coincides with a companion motion to increase the liquor license cap from 33 to 34 for Class BV licenses, which is customary for new liquor license requests.

Norman's was shuttered earlier this year after it was unable to pay more than $35,000 in back taxes owed to the town that had accumulated in sewer fees since 2010. 

Slowly but surely, the business has apparently gotten its footing back and the property was removed from the tax sale list last month after a $37,000 payment was made. And then, on June 13, their Facebook page was graced with a picture of a pint of beer with the caption "Got that Feeling....."

A council rejection of the license would come as a surprise since members said it was a painful decision for them to make by ordering the business closed after their liquor license renewal request was rejected in January. Norman's was unable to secure a loan to make the payment after being granted three previous license extensions.

"This was a difficult decision. We did not see a path to payment, which didn't leave us with other alternatives," said Council President Michael Isaacs after the meeting. 

But owner Norman Harris and his family apparently never lost sight of that path. And now, the path seems paved to Norman's lights shining bright once again. For longtime patrons of the establishment, that's something to cheer about.