The Beer Store is officially gearing up to close an additional five locations across Ontario next month, continuing the trend of reducing its footprint in the province.
On April 27, several stores in southwest and northern Ontario, including locations in Kitchener, London, Corunna, Erin, and Hearts will shut their doors, bringing the total number of Beer Store closures to 28 since June of last year.
The following locations are set to close next month:
- 1106 Front St, Hearst
- 140 Main St., Erin
- 195 St. Clair Blvd., Corunna
- 400 King. St. W., Kitchener
- 514 Adelaide St. N., London
Just last week, the Beer Store shut down eight of its stores in North York, Scarborough, Newmarket, Ottawa, Kingston, East York and Etobicoke. John Nock, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 12R24, which represents Beer Store workers across the province, previously confirmed that 23 of the chain’s locations had closed or were set to close by Feb. 28, 2025.
“This is definitely a direct cause of the beer market being opened up,” Nock said earlier this year, adding that the closures are “all due to Ford allowing alcohol to be sold in convenience and most grocery stores.”
The number of store closures, some argue, could increase if no agreements are made to stabilize The Beer store in the face of increased competition from grocery stores, convenience stores, and other big-box retailers.
“According to the early implementation agreement, The Beer Store must keep 300 stores open until the end of 2025,” Nock said. “After that there is no limit on closures.”
When previously asked about the influx of closures, Beer Store Vice President of Retail Ozzie Ahmed told blogTO that, “like any retailer in today’s evolving marketplace for beverage alcohol, [The Beer Store is] continually evaluating our business operations to ensure we’re meeting the needs of our customers and adapting to change.”
He added that “The Beer Store is closely watching” their retail stores and “making decisions on what makes the most sense” for how the retailer “operates as a business.”
Three Toronto Beer Store locations have already closed, including stores at Yonge and Dundas, Queens Quay, and Roncesvalles, as well as those in areas like Barry’s Bay, Marmora, Geraldton, Nipigon, Cochrane, Stratford, Burlington, London, Scarborough, Thedford, Westport and Chapleau.
In response to growing competition in the province’s alcohol landscape, The Beer Store has worked with the Ontario government to introduce several strategies aimed at boosting revenue, including allowing, in theory, the sale of lottery tickets and non-beer items.
