St. Paul City Council votes to shut down bar for 30 days

An embattled St. Paul bar will close temporarily after the City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the disciplinary action.

The council voted with no discussion to close the Moonlight Magic Bar, on the corner of Thomas and Western avenues, for 30 days and to impose a $2,000 fine.

The penalty was unusually stiff because of numerous alleged license violations -- from not using metal detectors on patrons to lack of security staff -- within a one-month period.

The bar's owners didn't respond to or appeal the city's allegations, so there was no public hearing.

The closure takes effect from Aug. 5 to Sept. 3.

A second 30-day closure and $2,000 fine has also been recommended by the city's Department of Safety and Inspections because of more alleged license violations.

Separate from the penalties for license violations, the bar could face a public nuisance lawsuit by the city.

City Attorney John Choi sent the owners a letter listing three gun-related incidents that happened in February, March and June. It didn't include the beating death of a 20-year-old man outside the bar in May.

The letter requested that the owners control the nuisance activity or work out a plan with the city to do so.

The time frame for that expires Monday, after which the city could pursue a lawsuit to close the bar for up to a year.

Choi said Wednesday that his office hasn't yet formally heard from the owners.

He said his office is monitoring the license violation penalties but didn't elaborate on whether a suit would be forthcoming.

CHRIS HAVENS