24-hour liquor OKd in Pembroke Park

On Wednesday, Pembroke Park town commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance that allows bars, lounges and other establishments that serve alcohol to stay open between 6 and 7 a.m. Saturdays. Before the new ordinance, those businesses had to close during that hour.

Vice Mayor Karen Janzer, who proposed the change for the 1.6-square-mile town, said the old hours caused businesses to lose customers. She said they would leave at the 6 a.m. closing time and go to Hallandale establishments.

In 1994, Hallandale city commissioners approved 24-hour operations at businesses serving alcohol, and last year renewed the licenses of six of those businesses.

Popular Pembroke Park businesses such as Casey's Nickelodeon, 5590 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., now stand a better chance of competing with businesses in Hallandale.

``If they approve it, they've got good foresight,'' Casey's Nickelodeon owner Peter Bednarz said before the vote was taken.

Bill and Patti LaChance, owners of Chance's Sports Bar, 4426 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd., now have a license to operate with a 6 a.m. Saturday closing time.

Though customers -- mostly from the surrounding neighborhood -- usually clear out earlier, ``I do think it will help,'' Patti LaChance said. ``There could be less driving [from one establishment to another], and that's safer.''