Though the doors haven’t officially opened, one can almost detect the faint aroma of fine Mexican cuisine emanating from the Sagebrush Cantina.
On Monday, the Lake Orion Village Council helped Sagebrush owner Dia Zaraga move one step closer to opening the downtown restaurant.
After agreeing unanimously to a resolution that allowed Zaraga to transfer his Class C liquor license to his newly constructed building, it appears the restaurant could be open in a matter of days.
Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassell informed the council that Police Chief Jerry Narsh had completed a report mandated by the Liquor Control Commission, and had recommended that the license be transferred. Van Tassell added that the approved license transfer would immediately be forwarded to the LCC.
Chief Narsh said Monday that once the license transfer is received by the LCC, the commission is prepared to release Zaraga’s liquor license, which had been placed in escrow since the original building burned in 2004.
The license transfer had been delayed because the council, at its June 26 meeting, placed a condition on the transfer that the building would be subject to the police chief’s inspection.
Once the inspection was completed, the process was further delayed because the individual handling the matter at the LCC went on vacation, and more recently with the overlapping of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Zaraga said last week that assuming he had his liquor license approved, he would be prepared to open for business by Thursday, November 30.
In a related matter, Zaraga was given until January 15, 2007, to construct a Dumpster enclosure at the restaurant. A dumpster had been included in the license agreement between Zaraga and the village.
Council member Ken Van Portfliet emphasized that he feels the village has done everything it could to provide for the restaurant’s expeditious reopening.
‘This is another example of how the village has worked toward the goal of getting the business open,? said Van Portfliet. ‘There has been no holding back. The village has done all it can to assist in the process.?