Beer Store announces 11 more closures, fourth round in two months
The Beer Store, Ontario’s biggest beer retailer, is shutting down 11 locations by the end of September. This is the fourth time in two months they’ve announced 10 or more store closures.
The Beer Store, Ontario’s biggest beer retailer, is shutting down 11 locations by the end of September. This is the fourth time in two months they’ve announced 10 or more store closures.
The Beer Store announced on Monday that locations in Brampton, Clinton, Norwich, Rodney and other small Ontario towns will be shut down.
“The Beer Store is adapting to changes in the retail market in Ontario. This is an ongoing process and includes making the difficult decision to close some retail locations. We know this is difficult for customers, employees and the communities where we operate,” Ozzie Ahmed, the Vice President of retail at The Beer Store, said in a news release.
“As the Beer Store modernizes, we’ll continue to be the best place for ice-cold beer, friendly customer service and a deposit return system that gets consumers their money back.”
Just two weeks earlier, the privately owned retailer announced 10 other retail closures, including in Toronto, Unionville, Ottawa, Scarborough, Hamilton and Burlington.
Over 40 store closures have been announced in just two months. As reported by local media, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Canada estimated a total of 83 closures have either already taken place or are set to take place since September of last year.
Last September, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced convenience stores would be permitted to sell booze, breaking up the private retail Beer Store’s Monopoly on beer and wine. Its only other competitor is the provincially owned Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
When the plan to open the market to convenience stores was announced, unions and Ford’s political detractors decried that the move would lead to mass layoffs. To combat this for the Beer Store specifically, Ford pledged $225 million in handouts in exchange for the Beer Store keeping locations operating and facilitating the return of empty bottles and cans.
In an agreement between The Beer Store, other alcohol retailers and Ontario’s minister of finance mandated The Beer Store to keep at least 386 retail locations open in Ontario until July of this year to facilitate recycling and “preserve employment.”
Starting July 1 and until the end of 2025, The Beer Store is permitted to close up to 86 locations but must maintain at least 300 until the end of the year, when the company is allowed to close as many stores as it wants without restrictions.
According to its website, the Beer Store employs 6,500 “hard-working Ontarians with well-paying full and part-time jobs” and served over 13,000 customers last year.
“The Beer Store recognizes the contributions our employees make to the business and in the communities where we operate,” Ahmed said in the news release. “All efforts will be made to support employees through this process in alignment with commitments and agreements.”
The Beer Store did not respond to True North’s request for comment.
Anyone with empty cans hoping to return them for cash can still do so at Beer Store locations or empty return dealers located nearby, according to a news release.
Grocery stores that sell alcohol will be required to accept empty returns and refund customer deposits starting Jan. 1, 2026.
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How is it that the Beer Store holds this market condition where they face no competition except for the Liquor Control Board?
The article seems to take a critical stance against the Ontario government's decision. It would be better to present the side too that there is potential benefit to the consumer by having more competition and more access. However potentially losing some control on ensuring the alcohol stays out of the hands of minors.
Beer Store only served 13,000 customers? No wonder they are going broke!!