Leiby's Ice Cream House and Restaurant in South Tamaqua could be on the cusp of reopening.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation approved and issued a highway occupancy permit on Tuesday, according to Ron Young, PennDOT spokesman.

At a West Penn Township board of supervisors meeting Monday morning, township engineer Bill Anders said that Leiby's had not met all the requirements for a highway occupancy permit.

Daniel Leiby, owner, attended that meeting and said the business is looking to employ about 120 people once it opens, which would include servers, cooks, cashiers, bakers.

Last week, the Walker Township Zoning Hearing Board agreed to grant an application to Leiby's Dairy Inc., 116 Mountain Road, Tamaqua.

Leiby's was granted a special exception under a section of the ordinance to expand the existing nonconforming use of the property as an ice cream manufacturing plant.

Founded and opened in 1965, Leiby's closed its doors in 2007.Last year, members of the Leiby family acquired the building and began renovations to reopen.