NORTHAMPTON — The Iron Horse Music Hall begins its long-anticipated opening of concerts and shows on Wednesday, although its owners are still anxiously awaiting approval from the state on when it may serve alcoholic beverages at its venue.

Despite having acquired the 20 Center St. venue from previous owner Eric Suher eight months ago, nonprofit The Parlor Room has struggled in its pursuit to obtain an all-alcohol liquor license for the Iron Horse because of Suher’s inability to produce a certificate of good standing for the state’s Department of Revenue. That has prevented a transfer of the license already associated with the establishment.

The city’s License Commission, in compensation, awarded The Parlor Room earlier this year one of seven special licenses it received via approval from the state Legislature after having reached its available quota. But Chris Freeman, the executive director of The Parlor Room, said that the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission never approved that license for the Iron Horse.

“They didn’t reject it, but they returned it to us with no action,” Freeman said.

In response, The Parlor Room hired a lawyer, who sent a request for reconsideration to the ABCC. Freeman said that the state commission then conditionally approved the liquor license, but was still waiting for someone from the state’s Department of Revenue to sign off on before it can goes into effect.

Until then, concertgoers at the Iron Horse will have to bring their own alcoholic beverages, although Freeman expressed optimism that the venue could have its license by the end of the week.

“It’s frustrating, but it still feels like we’re turning a corner,” Freeman said. “All of our members and ticket holders will receive a notice, because once we have the license (approved), we will no longer be able to do BYOB.”

The Iron Horse held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on its performance stage on Monday, with Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra on hand for the grand opening, along with Freeman, Parlor Room President Randy Krotowski, and other members of the nonprofit.

The reopening of the Iron Horse comes with high anticipation that it could serve as a catalyst for the city’s economy and bring back more of a nightlife scene to Northampton, making the addition of an all-alcohol license more crucial. Another former Suher venue, the Calvin Theater, is also in the works to reopen under The Bowery Presents, a group that also runs venues in New York City and Boston.

The Iron Horse’s premiere show, a jazz concert with musical acts Rachael & Vilray and Taylor Ashton, has already been sold out, with several of its more than 80 booked performances also have already been sold out.

The venue has undergone extensive renovations since the last time it was open to the public, such as an extended greenroom for artists a new HVAC systems and the addition of larger bathrooms. Most of the money for renovations have come from a $750,000 fundraising campaign launched by The Parlor Room.

“The shows are going really great,” Freeman said. “It’s been really fun getting ready to get people in here.”

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.