SCRANTON -- A bar in Scranton that was shut down because of the state's "nuisance bar" law may reopen its doors.
A new owner of the old Finn McCool's Pub in south Scranton has purchased a liquor license for the building.
The former Finn McCool's here in south Scranton was the scene of a homicide back in 2011.
However, neighbors said the problems went back further than that.
With the help of those neighbors, the Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office shut the bar down not long after the homicide.
According to city records, a new owner has plans to make this a bar and restaurant again.
The big orange liquor license sign hanging in the window of Finn McCool's on Cedar Avenue was quickly noticed by long-time neighbors in the south Scranton neighborhood.
Some said it's been nice since it was labeled a nuisance bar in 2011 and shut down.
That distinction came after a deadly shooting here in 2011 that has now made Finn McCool's Pub infamous.
According to city records, a man named Dennis Smith bought the bar back in May. Smith did not return our calls for comment, but the newly purchased liquor license states plans are for a bar and restaurant that will be called "Big Daddy's Lounge, Little Mama's Kitchen".
The new owner bought the property at a sheriff's sale.
Neighbors don't want to remember the Finn McCool's days, but they do remember the building as a successful family restaurant, Biff's, many years ago.
They are looking forward to the new business with nervous anticipation.
"I just wish them success, but if the drug traffic, if that's how it's going to end up we don't want it here. We don't want it," said neighbor Larry Miller.
Newswatch 16 called the new owner of this building, Dennis Smith of Lake Ariel, he didn't return our call.
There is no word on when this new restaurant may be open, but, neighbors said they have seen people doing work inside over the past few weeks in Scranton.