Norman's Raw Bar and Grill has closed after 51 years in Cocoa, the owners said Monday.

Stevie Whittaker, owner of Murdock's Southern Bistro, also in Cocoa, has purchased the business, said Norman Earley, who opened Norman's with his wife Carrie in 1969.

"We've had a wonderful, wonderful time here," Earley said. "Great years. I'm 79, getting ready to turn 80. I'm here every day, I love coming here every day.

"But I've got two beautiful grandchildren in Jacksonville, and I just don't get enough time with them. This has been my passion for a lot of years, but want to spend time with my grandchildren while I'm still able to pick them up."

Whittaker declined to comment until final paper work has been completed. She and Murdock's landlord, Aleck Greenwood, are in the middle of a lease dispute involving an unsigned rent check that almost resulted in her eviction in mid-February. A hearing on the eviction is scheduled for May 6 in Brevard Circuit Court.

But as far as the Earleys are concerned, it's a done deal.

"They're going to do very well," Norman Earley said.

A large white sign hanging across the front of the business Monday afternoon read "Sold" in the top corners, then: "51 Years of Love, Laughter & Fun Thank You everyone! — Norman & Carrie"

Norman's, known for its raw oysters and local music out front, occupies the corner of Forrest Avenue and King Street at the northwestern corner of Cocoa Village.

The Earleys opened Norman's when FLORIDA TODAY, then the Today newspaper, was down the street in what is now the Catherine Schweinsberg Rood Central Library.

"They were a gigantic part of my success," Earley said.

At the time, the newspaper didn't print until West Coast sports scores were available. When the staff finished everything but the sports pages, they would head over to Norman's to drink beer, shoot pool and eat chili dogs, Earley said.

When word came that the scores were available, "then all the guys would go back to the newspaper and put the paper to bed."

When Norman's first opened, men would come in for a drink and something to eat while their wives waited in the car.

"A lot of women didn't go into bars back then," he said.

Carrie went out to the cars and assured the women they were welcome.

Before opening Norman's, Earley was general manager of the old Dixie Restaurant, which was across the street from the Today paper.

Iconic Cocoa Village Murdock's could close by Sunday

Norman's employed about 40 people, Earley said. Vincent Cancasci, operations manager at Murdock's, was at the restaurant Monday interviewing the Norman's staff. A representative from food service distributor Cheney Bros. Inc. also was there giving information about other restaurants in search of help.

"Most (of the staff) have an opportunity to go somewhere else without having to go out and search," Earley said.

The Earleys won't be leaving the restaurant business completely, he said.

"We've still got Lone Cabbage Fish Camp," Earley said. The Earleys' daughter and son-in-law, Jaime and Mike Sicolo, run the fish camp at the old-Florida-style restaurant on the St. Johns River on the Brevard-Orange county line.

This is a developing story. Come back later for updates.

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