Westbrook’s only pawn shop will close next month, after the City Council voted unanimously Monday to deny its business license renewal following lengthy debate.

City administration argued that Platinum Pawn & Loan had not been truthful about its ownership and has been the subject of both local and federal investigations into illegal transactions of stolen items.

Cory Poulin, who founded the business six years ago at age 20, says the city has a “grudge” against him and the business, and that he has always been cooperative with police.

On Tuesday, Poulin was selling items for 50 percent off, and telling longtime customers that he would be closing. A variety of customers were in and out of the pawn shop, mostly buying video games and DVDs. One person picked up jewelry the shop had held, while another customer bought a digital camera. Other items in the shop included power tools, a generator, car speakers, TVs and guitars. An episode of “The Sopranos” played on a large TV in the back corner.

On Monday night, the Westbrook City Council chambers resembled a courtroom for more than three hours Monday night, as attorneys representing both the city and Poulin argued their cases.

While the city listed five reasons for denying the license, the biggest question centered on ownership of the pawn shop. For the past three years, the license renewal form named a different owner each year. In the application for this year, Poulin’s mother, Tina DeWolfe, is named as owner, while Poulin is listed as the “preferred contact.” Employee Shawn Gallant is listed as manager.

Poulin was denied his renewal in 2013 following a felony charge for burglary in Alfred. However, he was never convicted of the felony. Instead, in a deferred dispostion arrangement, he pleaded guilty to a Class D misdemeanor for criminal trespassing.

The city’s ordinance states that a prior felony conviction within the last 10 years is a disqualifying factor in a business license application. The license renewal paperwork asks if a business owner, manager, officer or partner has been convicted of a Class A to E crime in the last 10 years. The space is checked “no” on Platinum Pawn & Loan’s paperwork.

When asked his role in the business Monday, Poulin said he doesn’t have a title. He said he opened the business in 2010 with money from his mother. Both lawyers wrangled over testimony from Westbrook Police Capt. Sean Lally, who said DeWolfe had previously told him that she doesn’t take a salary, and works to help out her son.

“There doesn’t seem to be a change in ownership, except for a change in name on a piece of paper,” said Council President Brendan Rielly about the renewal forms.

When asked by Councilor Michael Foley if he still filed taxes on behalf of the business, Poulin said he did.

“The IRS thinks you’re the owner,” said Councilor Victor Chau.

Other reasons for denial alleged by the city are that the shop had been the source of customer complaints about illegal activity, and that the business had been a nuisance and detrimental to community safety.

Amy Tchao, an attorney representing the city, pointed out Monday that the shop had not been shut down previously because it was part of a federal investigation.

During the hearing, former Westbrook Police Capt. Tom Roth, who had been involved in previous investigations into the pawn shop, said he believed Poulin was operating a “fence business” between 2013 and 2014, knowingly accepting stolen items on multiple occasions. He said many of the customers bring in items to support drug habits.

Tchao also said there had been a past complaint from a neighboring business, Davina’s Design, a hair salon, about an argument between Poulin and a former girlfriend. But the owner, Davina Burrell, defended Poulin Monday, saying that he and the pawn shop have been good neighbors. She said she doesn’t agree that the shop’s clientele is mostly “druggies.”

Poulin’s attorney, David Weyrens, argued that no criminal charges had been brought against Poulin or the pawn shop as a result of the investigations, and said Poulin assisted authorities by entering all items that came through the shop on a database known as the New England State Police Information Network.

Roth said that according to the database, in 2013-14, 484 items were sold by five individuals. He said many of items were power tools and fitness bracelets that were in unopened boxes. Weyrens said the police wouldn’t have known about the stolen items if Poulin hadn’t been cooperative.

“I was helping them find stolen items,” Poulin said, adding that he uploaded items to the database every two days, which is more often than required. When police uncover stolen items, pawn shops take a financial hit.

Bruce Violette, who owns the 406 Main St. building, said Poulin has “done amazing work there.” He said Poulin upgraded the unit and installed a security system for the building, taking “great pride” in the space.

Violette criticized how Poulin was treated by police in the past, saying he once witnessed Roth pulling items off shelves without explanation.

Poulin said the would have to operate at least until April 8, when his last 30-day loan is due. Technically, the business license expired March 1. On Tuesday, he said his lawyer is working with the city to give him the grace period for customers.

“People have to be able to get their property, I have to give 30 days for everyone that has a loan,” he said.

Poulin said he doesn’t want to relocate, and that if he does lose the shop, he’d most likely look into a different type of business.

Prior to the council’s vote Monday, Foley said he hoped Poulin would reapply truthfully.

“If you were forthright with us, we might have been able to get you a license a while ago,” he said. “But, at this point, the ownership is in significant question, and I can’t support granting the license based on that fact alone.”

Poulin said he would be going to City Hall to pick up another application, which costs $275 to submit. This time, he said, he would name himself as the owner. He believes the city shouldn’t be able to deny him due to the fact that his prior conviction was a misdemeanor.

“The odds are against me, but I don’t want to go down without trying,” he said.