In a 3-2 vote Oct. 19, councilors set an 11:30 p.m. end to alcohol service Sunday through Thursday. The existing 1 a.m. cutoff on Fridays and Saturdays remains unchanged. The council is scheduled to reopen its public hearing on the business Nov. 2, when members could consider additional restrictions.

The vote continues a series of limits imposed since the market opened in 2024. In 2025, the town restricted patio and outdoor service to 11:30 p.m., outdoor live music to 9 p.m. and all outdoor music or excessive noise to 10 p.m.

Council President Alexander Menzies called the latest change a starting point and a compromise, saying residents deserved to be heard. He had initially proposed ending weeknight alcohol service at 11 p.m., but other councilors favored matching the existing cutoff for patio and outdoor service.

Council President Pro Tem James Durkin and Councilor Jason Colonies opposed the new restriction. Town Manager James Tierney and Police Chief Kyle Rekas had urged stronger measures. Rekas proposed clearing outdoor areas by 10 p.m. and closing the venue at 11 p.m., telling councilors, “Maybe put it on probation a little bit and see what happens.”

Residents have raised concerns about late-night noise and drinking, limited parking, and traffic affecting nearby homes, businesses and Thompson Memorial Park. Police data presented at the meeting showed nearly 1,500 parking violations on Boon Street this year. Rekas said that was the highest total for a single street in his 27 years with the department, and that customers were parking wherever they could find space.

Police have made nine arrests related to activity at the venue this year, compared with three last year, and recorded four noise-ordinance violations tied to the market in the past two months. Officers have conducted more than 200 compliance checks this year; Rekas said the business follows its restrictions “most of the time.” He also cautioned that not all 17 vehicle collisions reported in the Boon Street area last year, or the four reported so far this year, could be attributed to the market.

Some noise complaints involve talking, yelling, cheering or singing that residents can hear but that may not exceed the town’s legal decibel limit. Councilors discussed whether local noise rules should be changed so enforcement does not depend on a decibel reading. Residents and officials also cited queues outside the venue, ride-share vehicles waiting in the street and portable toilets used to address a shortage of restrooms.

The business’s owners and the town building inspector did not attend the Oct. 19 meeting. Attorney John McGreen, representing the market, said it was working with the town on the restroom issue and would discuss capacity with the building inspector. He warned that limiting the venue to 129 people could effectively close the business, and asked councilors to continue the hearing before adding restrictions.

The market has also received support from people who see it as a community gathering place. South Kingstown Town Councilor Jay Wegimont said food halls such as Boon Street Market help bring residents of the two towns together, particularly in Narragansett, which he said lacks a traditional Main Street.

At the Nov. 2 hearing, Menzies said councilors would look for concrete changes from the business and could further restrict its liquor license if serious improvements are not made.