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Rolling Meadows considers extending liquor sale hours

Rolling Meadows aldermen appear to favor extending alcohol sale hours at liquor stores and grocery stores.

Currently, nine stores within the city can sell alcohol from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

But the owner of Armanetti Wine and Liquor, 4001 W. Algonquin Road, and some residents recently asked city officials for extended hours.

At a city council workshop meeting this week, Rolling Meadows aldermen took a 5-1 straw poll vote to change Class "B" sales hours to 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week. Alderman Len Prejna favored keeping the Sunday starting time at 11 a.m.

Most aldermen said local business owners were at a competitive disadvantage. For example, Schaumburg allows sales as late as 3 a.m. on weekends, and Palatine permits sales to begin at 6 a.m. every day.

"I'd like to give our guys and girls that own businesses in our town a fighting chance to get the business that's out there," said Alderman Mike Cannon, who suggested the adjusted hours.

Alderman Laura Majikes agreed with a city staff recommendation to have consistency in hours every day of the week to ease confusion among consumers.

The new hours would affect sales at Armanetti Wine and Liquor, Jewel-Osco, Meijer, Garden Liquor, CVS, Squire Liquor & Tobacco, Wal-Mart, Bells Liquors and Fresca Supermarket.

Rolling Meadows previously had longer hours - 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends - but that was changed in 2004.

A final vote on new hours is expected at an upcoming city council meeting.

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