Saint Paul council holds public hearing on zoning change to let Cups and Cheers stay open until 2 a.m.

The St. Paul City Council held a public hearing on an ordinance (25-36) that would amend the legislative code to create an additional commercial development district at 1624–1626 White Bear Avenue North so a neighborhood restaurant could extend operating hours to 2 a.m.

Owners of Cups and Cheers — including Nu Fu Chang and business partner Leon Yang — told the council they have run the business for about six years and said extended hours are necessary to stay financially viable. “In order for us to stay in business…that’s why we asked for the city for the neighborhood to extend our business out to 2AM,” Nu Fu Chang said during public comment.

Neighbors and the Greater East Side District 2 Community Council, represented by Executive Director Lisa Tice, urged caution. Tice said the district council had no formal letter supporting or opposing the proposal but relayed concerns from residents about late-night noise, post-closing disturbance and potential increases in crime. Resident Yanni Hoomis told the council she was troubled by outreach, saying the application’s sign-in reflected only business owners and no neighbors who live nearby.

Several council members thanked the owners for their investment in the East Side while echoing neighborhood concerns and urging continued dialogue between the business and neighbors. Council Member Johnson noted the district council’s role and encouraged Cups and Cheers to answer specific questions about security and operations similar establishments use, citing Cherry Pit and other late-night venues as examples.

The council closed the public hearing at the meeting and laid the ordinance over to June 25 for final adoption; the public hearing comment period is complete but the council will take the final vote at the later meeting.

The proposal, as described in the staff report, would amend the zoning appendix and create a commercial development district at the stated address to allow extended hours; the ordinance language and any conditions of approval will be considered at final adoption.

If the council adopts the ordinance on June 25, the zoning change would enable the property to operate under the commercial district rules the ordinance establishes; the transcript does not record a final vote or any adopted conditions. Council members said they are open to further policy discussion on how such “cookie-cutter” rules are applied in different neighborhoods.

For now, the outcome is procedural: the public hearing closed and the ordinance was laid over to the June 25 council meeting for final action.