Café Old Smuggler in Valthermond has to temporarily close its doors because a valid catering permit is missing. Two weeks after the official opening, the municipality of Borger-Odoorn announced that it still needs time to process the newly requested permit.
Owner Harm Greven confirms this temporary closure after reporting in Newspaper of the North. “I thought we were entitled to a temporary permit, or whether this situation would be tolerated. But that is not the case. This can take up to three months,” is his great fear.
The Old Smuggler Inn was an infamous hangout in the past. First mainly a cafe and in the 70s and 80s a famous disco, where Herman Brood even performed. The building was demolished, and a new catering business was built for it. The Greven family decided themselves to restore The Old Smuggler Inn. Under a slightly abbreviated name: ‘Old Smuggler’.
For example, the youth in Valthermond no longer had to move to Musselkanaal, Stadskanaal, Emmen or even Groningen, but could go back to an old, familiar place. “Soon they will be able to go back to Valthermond on their bicycles to drink a beer and play pool. It should really become a meeting point, as it used to be,” Greven previously told RTV Drenthe.
The plan is therefore roughly interrupted by the municipality after two weeks. Greven was aware that, with a new catering business, a new catering permit had to be issued. Until this permit was granted, the situation will be tolerated, Greven thought. “Deputy Henk Brink will open the case here, later aldermen will come and have a look.” According to the manager, these were festive moments, and there was no announcement that a temporary closure hung like a dark cloud over Old Smuggler.
“I have never been told that I am not allowed to open now. I do not know how this is possible, I think it is a blunder on the part of the municipality. This affects me.”