Marra Family Plans To Reopen Post Office Café

Michael Marra appeared before the Town Council Monday night to persuade the panel to renew liquor and victualing licenses for both the and the closed . Marra - brother of Steve Marra - said that the Post Office Café, which as been closed since January, was being renovated and the plan was to reopen it in early 2012.

The Council voted 5-0 to renew both licenses.

The Post Office Café closed one month after the . At the time, a spokesman for the receiver said the restaurant would reopen in April.

That didn’t happen. Then, in August, .

Receivership details are still being worked through and there is now the added complication of probate regarding Steve Marra’s estate. Marra left his assets to his parents, Michael and Edith Marra. It was the two Michaels – father and son – who bought the Marra Restaurant Group earlier this year when the receiver put it up for sale. Steve Marra stayed on to manage the restaurants until his death on Aug. 31.

“The Grille is going to stay as is,” said Michael Marra. “The family will continue to operate it and keep it as it is.”

He said the other restaurants – six total –will also remain as is for now.

“The Post Office Café will open probably in the first quarter of 2012. We’re renovating the inside with a minority partner,” Marra said. “I don’t think they’ve actually settled on a name yet. But it won’t be in competition with the Grille,” he said. “Maybe gourmet burgers and things like that - light fare. There won’t be full entrees or meals like the grille has. And there’ll probably be some entertainment there too.”