Chelsea panel approves later weekend hours for El Piosco; opens discussion on 2 a.m. requests

The Chelsea Licensing Commission on Sept. 11 approved a change to the closing hours for El Piosco, located at 212 Broadway in Chelsea, extending Thursday, Friday and Saturday closing times from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. The commission also heard public comment from Noctuno Lounge’s owner seeking a 2 a.m. closing time and discussed whether to hold a broader public hearing on later hours in the city.

The change for El Piosco was presented as an amendment to its all-alcohol beverages license and to its amusement and entertainment designation; commissioners voted in favor. Licensing Clerk Naomi Lebron told the panel the applicant had submitted the required paperwork and fees. “They are completed, and they’re paid for,” Lebron said.

Why it matters: Closing-hour decisions affect downtown businesses, late‑night public safety and nearby residents. The commission’s actions set a precedent for how future requests for later hours will be handled and whether the city will pursue a citywide policy change.

El Piosco and police guidance El Piosco’s applicant, who identified herself as Judy Correa of 212 Broadway, told the commission she seeks the later hours so the restaurant can serve patrons who arrive later in the evening. Correa said the kitchen would remain open until 12:30 a.m. on nights when the premises stays open later.

Sergeant Chung of the Chelsea Police Department reviewed recent call logs and raised operational cautions. He told the commission that, while there had been only one police call involving the location this year, the applicant should be “mindful of the fire code, which is, how many people she can have in there because it is a smaller, smaller, space.” Chung also warned licensees to watch for signs of intoxication: “...just be mindful of that, and being able to kinda recognize that and cutting them off.”

Correa and her interpreter confirmed the establishment’s occupancy and entertainment setup; the commission discussed posting requirements and paperwork. Naomi Lebron told the applicant that the city will issue new license documents showing the amended hours and that the establishment may not operate under the new hours until the updated license is posted inside the premises: “you can't do it until you have a new license that has those hours,” Lebron said.

Public comment and broader policy discussion Nelson Molina, owner of Noctuno Lounge at 158 Broadway, told commissioners that later closing hours in neighboring municipalities draw away customers and urged the city to consider later hours to help local nightlife. “We are committed to offering a safe, positive, and enriching environment for residents and visitors alike,” Molina said, and asked the commission to consider authorizing a 2 a.m. close for some establishments.

Commissioners and police said they would not make a blanket policy change at the meeting. Instead, they told business owners that applications to change hours must be filed through the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) and that each change-of-hours request will require notification to abutters and an opportunity for public comment. The commission agreed that the typical path will be for individual establishments to apply, appear before the licensing board, and allow nearby residents to speak on the record.

Commissioners did, however, say they are open to scheduling a separate public hearing that would be a general conversation about whether to permit later hours on a broader scale; they asked interested businesses and residents to attend if the hearing is scheduled. Sergeant Chung recommended that business owners coordinate and present evidence such as staffing plans, occupancy limits and public-safety procedures when requesting later hours.

What happens next The commission authorized El Piosco’s change of hours for Thursday–Saturday to 1 a.m.; Sunday–Wednesday hours remain 11 p.m. The city will issue amended license documents to the business once administrative steps are completed. Businesses that want later hours must file an ABCC amendment for a change of hours and will be notified by abutter mailings if and when they request a change. The commission said it may schedule a general public hearing to discuss potential 2 a.m. allowances, but any final determinations will come after public comment and individual license hearings.