The City Commission of Sunrise on Aug. 12, 2025 approved a special-exception permit for Brothers Liquor to operate at 4529 North Pine Island Road in the Pine Plaza Shops, voting 3-0 after hearing staff recommendations, public comment and police input. The commission adopted staff conditions and accepted the applicant’s voluntary commitment to shorten operating hours to Sunday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–11 p.m., and Friday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–midnight.

Shannon Lay, the city’s director of community development, told the commission the application was reviewed under City of Sunrise Land Development Code section 16-36(d) and chapter 3 of the City Code of Ordinances (alcoholic beverage requirements) and that staff recommended approval with a mix of mandatory and voluntary conditions. Those included obtaining the state liquor license and a business tax receipt, posting required pregnancy-warning signage, and the applicant’s commitments to install multi-camera CCTV, monitored alarms, door-frame height-marker decals, employee training on underage drinking and substance abuse, and participation in Sunrise Police Department trespass registration. The property owner also proffered recordable restrictive covenants prohibiting certain uses in the shopping center.

Neighbors and plaza stakeholders urged caution. John Wallenda, president of the Springtree West 4 Homeowners Association, said the plaza’s proximity to residential neighborhoods and a preschool raised concerns about late-night activity and lighting. He told the commission: "I've had people in my community ask, saw the sign go up...what type of establishment would that be?...There are some dark corners there. There's a church in there. There's a preschool in there...If there's not some sort of security done by the plaza owner or from the liquor store itself...the police department's very familiar with that."

Sunrise Police Chief Renzo said similar off-premises alcohol retailers across the city tend to generate calls for service after midnight, including trespass and disturbances, and that the department expects an increase in service demand for comparable establishments. He said many owners do report problems and cooperate with police. "If someone calls, you're gonna have officers respond," he said.

Applicant Jonathan Jesus, speaking for owner Henry Jesus, accepted the staff conditions and said the business would require employees to call police when problems occur and would not allow on-site drinking. "We do," he said in response to the commission’s question about accepting the conditions.

Commissioners amended the staff-recommended hours (a voluntary applicant commitment) during the meeting; the amended hours are now part of the conditions the applicant accepted. The motion to approve the special exception with the amended hours passed 3-0 (Assistant Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Guzman moved; Commissioner Latoya Clark seconded). Votes recorded as yes: Assistant Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Guzman; Commissioner Latoya Clark; Deputy Mayor Neil Kirsch.

The staff report and the commission’s resolution include several other conditions (full list in the file) and a requirement to provide a signed copy of any executed restrictive-covenant declaration. The applicant and property owner agreed those covenants would run with the property.

Sunrise staff and the applicant said they will maintain communication with the Police Department about security measures; the department indicated it will monitor calls for service at the site as operations begin.