Beer Store to close 10 more locations across Ontario

Ten more Beer Store locations across Ontario will be closing down effective Sept. 14, following dozens of other locations closing since the beginning of the year.

"This is not an easy decision and not one we make lightly," said Ozzie Ahmed, vice-president of retail for the Beer Store.

"All efforts will be made to support employees through this process in alignment with commitments and agreements," he said.

While Ahmed says the business has had to close some locations to adapt to the province's changing beer retail market, one expert says it's a sign that the Beer Store is making "a slow and painful departure."

"It's certainly putting the writing on the wall that there doesn't seem to be a plan in place to save them ... There doesn't seem to be any new strategy or innovation on the horizon to save the remaining stores," said Lisa Hutcheson, retail strategist at J.C. Williams Group. 

A competition with convenience

Access to alcohol and other goods in convenience stores is one factor leading to The Beer Store's reductions, says Hutcheson.

Booze has been readily available in convenience stores across Ontario since last September, thanks to a push from Premier Doug Ford's government. 

"When you think about The Beer store todayl it is really just beer and there isn't anything else," said Hutcheson, adding the company should have re-strategized to keep stores open years ago. 

"There's really nothing interesting about it. There's no experience, there's no customer service. You get your beer and you just leave."

Hutcheson says the company, which still has hundreds of locations, can still reinvent itself, but that will take time to research and execute.

Since the arrival of beer in convenience stores, 83 Beer Stores have closed and 42 more may follow by the end of the year, said John Nock, president of the UFCW Canada Local 12R24 that represents Beer Store employees.

Nock says there are fewer places to return empty cans and is doubtful grocery stores will follow regulations coming next year. 

Grocery stores that sell alcohol will be required to accept the return of "empties" and return customer deposits starting next January, according to a media release from the Beer Store.

The Beer Store said customers are still encouraged to return empty alcohol containers to any of its locations.

The company will be closing the following 10 locations:

• 2020 Appleby Line, Burlington.
• 3322 5 Hwy. #17, Deep River.
• 229 Dundurn St. S, Hamilton.
• 12334 Hwy. #41, PO Box 17, Northbrook.
• 1910 St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa.
• Erie St. S, #21 Hwy, Ridgetown.
• 4479 Kingston Rd, Scarborough.
• 41 Front St, Sioux Lookout.
• 636 Greenwood Ave., Toronto.
• 4681 Hwy # 7, Unionville.