By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— Owen’s Bar and Grill, located at 3221 County Road 52 West, may lose its business license after a decision by the Pelham City Council Jan. 4.

Pelham finance director Tom Seale reported that the business has failed to file and pay applicable sales, use and liquor taxes to the city for the months of September, October and November.

Over the past several months, Seale said the city has made three in-person contacts, a number of telephone calls and sent three certified letters to Owen’s Bar owner Michael Little. They also delivered a letter concerning the public hearing that took place at the Jan. 4 meeting.

“We’ve had no contact, phone calls from the business owner,” Seale said.

Members of the City Council passed a resolution that gives Little until Feb. 4 to bring all the sales taxes current. If the taxes have not been made current by that time, the business license will be revoked.

At the meeting, Little expressed the difficulties he has faced since he purchased the location. Owen’s Bar and Grill currently occupies the space previously known as Tyler Navarre’s Bar and Grill.

“I started this business and really couldn’t tell how hard it was going to be,” Little said. “I maintain a 70- to 80-hour work week and still come do this at night. Things didn’t work out. When I initially bought the business, my investor didn’t come through, so I had to struggle to get what I had.”

As of mid-December, Little said he attained another investor and is in the process of getting all the paperwork finalized. Little told the council members he’s confident he will have his affairs in order by the end of the month, and he will be able to bring all the sales taxes current.

The City Council also,

• Approved the annexation of four lots in Hayesbury Commercial Park into the city of Pelham.
• Rescheduled the Jan. 18 City Council meeting to Jan. 21 because of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.
• Announced the next quarterly meeting of the Pelham Business Council on Jan. 26 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena.