That's a good point, and entirely possible.

I wasn't sure if writing a letter to him was the best idea, that maybe the best course was to stay out of it entirely. It's likely that my letter made him mad because I wasn't too gentle. I wasn't mean or rude but I did suggest he consider what is professional behavior.

After his dramatic announcement that he's closing the shop, in the comments discussion that ensued, he mentioned that the fellow who has a store front he could rent had not returned his messages. The fellow responded to that right away and it looks like he might go ahead and move into the store front, which would make the license issue a simple matter. I know the store front guy too, and since the space is standing empty at the moment and the store front guy is a car free cyclist, I believe the bike shop guy will get the space for perhaps free or at any rate a very reasonable cost. (Like most small towns, the downtown is struggling, and the "business incubation" model involves landlords giving new businesses a sweet deal so long as no one else is wanting to pay the full rent.)

If that happens--something I believe is still a big "if"-- I will feel partly responsible, that my letter sparked him to get a store front and become legitimate.