Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Owners of a new eatery planned for Main Street appeared before City Council July 9 requesting approval of an application for a malt and vinous liquor license for their establishment.
Co-owners of Sorpreso, a restaurant with a decidedly Italian flavor and atmosphere, were welcomed by the Council as the group made their request.
Judith Boudman, speaking on behalf of her business partner and husband, Clifton Boudman, and their business associates, Jan and Roger Lucas, advised the Council such a permit was necessary for the sale of beverages to compliment the meals that would be served.
Councilors took little time to approve the application for Sorpreso, which will be opening later this year at its 415 Main Street location in the heart of downtown Presque Isle.
“We still have a lot of work to do. We’re hoping to be open sometime early this fall,” said Jan Lucas, adding more details about the business would be released at a later date.
The Council also recently considered and approved an application by another business with a familiar name. At a recent session, councilors approved the application to operate a taxi cab service by Ryan S. Brown and Larry D. Brown, d/b/a Brownie’s Taxi Service, 34 Exchange Street.
“I’ve lived in this city for a real long time and we’ve always had a Brownie’s cab service,” said Councilor Don Gardner. “I’m glad to see one coming back.”
The Browns also received Council approval of their request for an additional cab for the business.
In other Council news, councilors recently voted on the following Presque Isle business issues:
• Approved a vinous liquor license application for Heidi J. Samuel, d/b/a Heidi’s Tea Shop, 769 Main Street, Suite 1;
• Approved the application for a special amusement permit for dancing and entertainment by Hayward Frazier Post 2599 VFW, 6 State Road;
• Approved the application for a special amusement permit for dancing and entertainment as well as a malt, spirituous and vinous liquor license for Daniel R. Collins, d/b/a 19th Hole Restaurant and Lounge, 35 Parkhurst Siding Road;
• Approved an application for a mechanical amusement permit for Wal-Mart, 781 Main Street;
• Approved an application for a mechanical amusement permit for the Aroostook Centre Mall, common area, 830 Main Street;
• Approved a juke box application by Capital Pizza Huts, Inc., North Main Street;
• Approved a malt, spirituous and vinous liquor license application by RT New England Franchise, LLC, d/b/a Ruby Tuesday, 830 Main Street, Aroostook Centre Mall;
• Approved a malt and vinous liquor license application by the Northern Maine Fair Association, 87 Mechanic Street;
• Approved a malt liquor license application by Daniel R. Collins, d/b/a Riverside Inn Restaurant, 399 Main Street;
• Approved a pawnbroker license application by Harold Drost, d/b/a Uncle Sam’s, 513 Main Street;
• Approved a special amusement permit for dancing and entertainment as well as a malt, spirituous and vinous liquor license application for KBS Enterprises, d/b/a Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center, 116 Main Street; and
• Approved a malt, spirituous and vinous liquor license application by Mei Po Tam, d/b/a Main Tai, Inc., 449 Main Street.
The next City Council meeting will be held August 6 at City Hall at 6 p.m. Sessions are open to the public, with the public encouraged to participate.
