Maplewood council closes hearing after applicants and neighbors urge continuity of liquor license at Immaculate Conception site

Rebecca Gatz, who said she works for the Immaculate Conception campus now subsumed under St. Mary Magdalene and the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, told the Maplewood City Council that she has converted herself to the facility’s managing officer and had completed state and county paperwork but did not realize a local council process was required. “So my name is Rebecca Gatz. I work for the Immaculate Conception… my address is 596 Hickory Manor in Arnold, Missouri,” she said, explaining the change was administrative and that the facility has held a liquor license for many years for community events such as fish fries and trivia nights.

Gatz said sales have been rare in the past two years and that the license mainly permits renters to bring alcohol for BYOB events; she told the council that small rental revenue helps cover building maintenance after the Archdiocese closed the parish and that losing the license could jeopardize the community space. “Without the trivia nights and stuff that we make the money on, I won't even be able to cover the cost of the building,” she said.

Two public commenters spoke in support. Patty Moray described the building as a long‑running arts hub with youth programs and low rents for artists, and urged council approval so the facility can continue serving the community. Tenant artist Sarah Bloomfield said artists keep the property active and that she has not observed alcohol misuse on the premises: “We keep it running as a really cool art center and community center.”

Mayor Greenberg closed the public hearing after comments. The request before council was a change in the managing officer of an existing malt liquor license for 72 Foley Avenue; no formal license vote was recorded in the public portion of the meeting transcript.