Plans are in the works to reopen Dawsonville's historic Pool Room within the next few weeks.

Owner Gordon Pirkle on Monday said he is hopeful everything will be in place to open Sept. 1, just in time for the Labor Day tourists and the Advocare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Pirkle had hoped to reopen by mid-August but had a few setbacks in the remodeling phase.

"We're hoping to get some of that finished up this week," he said.

The Pool Room has been closed since May 9 when revenue agents seized the downtown eatery during the busy lunch shift due to unpaid state taxes.

According to Pirkle, he worked out a monthly payment schedule to repay nearly $40,000 in delinquent state taxes and was given clearance to reopen in late June.

He chose, however, to hold off the celebration until he could make some improvements and upgrades to the popular burger joint, which pays homage to native son and NASCAR champion Bill Elliott.

In addition to news clippings lining the walls chronicling Elliott's rise to stardom, there are also Ford front bumpers suspended from the ceiling and a tire sitting next to the register from Elliott's 1985 Southern 500 victory.

"I think we're going to put on the sign that we're opening soon and we're now accepting applications," Pirkle said.