In an effort to aid local businesses in a struggling economy, the South Brunswick Council discussed extending Sunday liquor store hours at its Aug. 7 meeting. Currently, residents seeking to buy alcohol on Sundays must do so before liquor stores are required to close at 5 p.m. The council debated whether to extend Sundays hours until 7 p.m. after a request was filed by Rama Govinda, owner of Viking Buy Rite Liquors in Monmouth Junction. “Customers would come in on Sundays around 5 p.m. and ask, ‘Why are you closing?’ and say ‘We have to travel to different towns,’ ” Govinda said. “It wasn’t a lot of customers, maybe 1 or 2 percent, but we want to do everything to be profitable.”
The township passed an ordinance last year to allow liquor stores to open at 10 a.m. instead of noon but did not decide to push back evening hours. The council sought the recommendation of the South Brunswick Police Department before last week’s meeting. Chief Raymond Hayducka offered his opinion, easing some of the council members trepidation in regards to the change.
“Some of our [liquor stores in] adjoining towns stay open until 9 or 10 p.m. Cranbury is open until 2 a.m.,” Councilman Joseph Camarota said. “Since the increase in hours, there have been no signs of any issues of foul play. To help some of the local businesses, I think this is fine.”
After echoing the council’s approval, Mayor Frank Gambatese confirmed with Township Attorney Don Sears that the hour change would not conflict with state regulations.
“The maximum under state law is 10 p.m., so we would still be well within the parameters,” Sears said.
With stores in neighboring municipalities closing any time from 8 to 10 p.m., Govinda said the township’s liquor stores are in less danger of attracting unwanted customers.
“I’m happy with the extension the township is giving,” he said. “We don’t want to be the last stores to close. We don’t want to attract vandals.”
An ordinance regarding the extension of hours of sale on Sundays is scheduled for first reading at the Aug. 14 council meeting.