E. Dundee allows earlier liquor sales on Sunday

Diamond Jim's on Meier Street in East Dundee opens for breakfast at 8 a.m. on Sundays but hasn't been able to serve liquor until 10 a.m.

The East Dundee village board voted this week to change that, allowing all businesses to start liquor sales two hours earlier.

"A lot of people have come in and couldn't be served Bloody Marys," said Carl Mizak, co-owner of Diamond Jim's. "Now we notice the same people were coming in later."

To keep their early customers, Mizak said they asked the village board to amend the ordinance.

On Tuesday some board members were confused as to which businesses would be affected by the change, but the amendments passed through a unanimous omnibus vote Monday night.

Time restrictions for sales are not listed by license type in the ordinance, so any change affects all businesses selling liquor restaurants as well as stores.

Trustee Michael Ruffulo said they don't expect any problems with the change as it is fairly minor, and though he thought he voted on restaurants only, said he would not have voted differently had he known the broader reach.

Businesses can already start selling liquor at 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday so the amendment will affect just one day per week. But because liquor licenses must be renewed annually, the board can easily reverse its vote next year if problems do arise.

Paresh Patel, a manager at East Dundee Shell on Dundee Avenue, said they usually wait to open until 10 a.m. on Sundays to account for the liquor licensing laws but that will change starting Oct. 17. He said they often get a lot of customers in the morning as people prepare for gatherings and sporting events but they used to have to turn people away before 10 a.m. Soon, they'll be able to welcome these customers earlier.

"It's going to be good for our business, I know that," Patel said.

Diamond Jim's also asked to be able to stay open until 4 a.m. on weeknights, extended from the current 1 a.m. limit, but the board said no.

"We didn't want to be the place to go when everyone else closes," Ruffulo said.

Carpentersville currently allows liquor to be sold until 2 a.m. Sunday, an hour later than East Dundee, but both limit sales to 1 a.m. Monday through Friday. With the earlier Sunday hours, East Dundee will be the only village in the area selling at 8 a.m.