What's the fun in applying for a liquor license without a few Shenanigans along the way?

That's a question that could be asked of Stephen Hurlburt, the Bourne-based entrepreneur who appeared before Selectmen Tuesday who tried, and ultimately failed, to obtain a liquor license for his new restaurant, "Shenanigans."

Hurlburt seemed to have all the paperwork in order for an annual all-alcohol license at his new restaurant, which is set to open at 2691 Cranberry Highway, the site of the old Shooters Restaurant that has been closed since Dec. 30, 2010.

The process, however, was not as simple as it seemed.

Selectman Alan Slavin said that for years, the board has denied applications because it was under the impression there were no licenses available.

It wasn't until Hurlburt and his lawyer, Leonard Bello, asked the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission about the situation. After being told by the town an extra license wasn't available, an extra license was discovered.

Selectman Peter Teitelbaum said the discrepancy stemmed from an inn that closed in Onset years ago, which then caused confusion about whether or not the license could be used at different types of establishments.

Because the public was unaware the license existed, Selectmen voted to hold a comparative hearing on Feb. 17 in which anyone who would like to apply for the license can be heard. The deadline to apply is Feb. 9.

"We didn't know it was available, otherwise we would have made it public," Slavin said. "We've turned down four people in the last year saying there was no license."

Bello expressed concerns with holding a comparative hearing because Hurlburt had already progressed with a lease agreement on the property. He said that prolonging the process could make it difficult for the restaurant to open by spring.

In a July 2014 interview with Wareham Week, Hurlburt said he planned on purchasing the property as opposed to leasing it from LBM Financial, the current owner. LBM was at the center of controversy when John Hoban, the owner of Shooters Restaurant, claimed the company had scammed him out of his restaurant.

“We got caught up in a predatory lending scam. Basically, [LBM] forced a family out of business in five years," Hoban said to Wareham Week in 2010.

Additionally, when a resident asked if there was any relation between Hoban and Hulburt, Bello replied, "one has absolutely nothing to do with the other."

While the two might not be business partners, Hulbert told Wareham Week in July that Hoban helped him with the renovation process, from guidance on the purchase of new equipment to the development of the layout of the restaurant.

He also said he knows the people at LBM and almost purchased the property before Hoban.

"I've known everyone involved for a long time," he said.

Hurlburt has been renovating the property for nearly a year. On Tuesday, Selectmen did approve the common victualler's license for Shenanigans, allowing it to cook and serve food.

On Feb. 17, Hurlburt will out if he can serve liquor as well.