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Maplewood council approves later closing hours for Unison event center
Summary
On Feb. 9, the Maplewood City Council approved an amendment to the conditional use permit for Unison (Banquet Restaurant LLC) at 1800 Weyper Avenue North, allowing operations until 12 a.m. on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends; Councilmember Lee recused.
Maplewood — The City Council voted Feb. 9 to amend the 2018 conditional use permit (CUP) for Unison (Banquet Restaurant LLC), allowing the venue at 1800 Weyper Avenue North to remain open until 12 a.m. on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends.
Planner Ms. Parr told the council that the building—approved in 2018 for multiple uses including a restaurant, bar and banquet hall—was originally subject to limited hours as part of the CUP conditions. She said Unison now requests later closing times to better align with paid events and customer expectations.
Ms. Parr said Public Safety reviewed comparable businesses and identified 74 calls for service related to the location over the past three years; staff concluded the establishment was not an outlier, noting it previously operated fewer hours. The planning commission held a public hearing, recommended approval, and staff noted one written letter was included in the staff report. At the planning commission hearing four residents spoke; three expressed concerns and one spoke in support.
Owner Tuyir Moore told the council the business has been in Maplewood about eight years and said, “we're asking for this amendment mainly to pretty much just sustain ourself and, you know, stay in business and be a part of, the city of Maplewood.”
Councilmember Lee disclosed upcoming business dealings with Unison, recused from the discussion and vote, and did not participate. Councilmember Cave moved the resolution and Councilmember Villavicencio seconded. The motion carried by voice vote; the record notes one abstention consistent with the recusal.
Why it matters: The amendment changes the permitted hours for a mixed-use event facility in a commercial zoning district and balances late-night economic activity with neighbors’ concerns about noise and public-safety impacts. The council’s approval follows staff and planning commission review and limited public comment.
What happened next: The council took no additional conditions at the meeting beyond those reflected in the staff report; minutes show the council adjourned immediately after the vote.
Key facts from the record: staff notified 50 surrounding properties within 500 feet; one written comment was included in the staff report; planning-commission testimony included four residents (three opposed, one supportive); staff reported 74 calls for service over three years; prior CUP hours were limited (closing at 11 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and midnight on Friday–Saturday under the original 2018 approval) and the amendment authorizes 12 a.m. Sunday–Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday–Saturday.
