The Beer Store is shuttering a number of locations in Ontario on Oct. 19.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
Ontario’s long-standing beer retailer is continuing to close locations, adding to a lengthy list of shutdowns announced as Ontario expands where alcohol can be sold in the province.
On Monday, The Beer Store announced it is closing 12 more locations across the province.
Here’s what you need to know about the closures and how it will affect how you buy beer and return your empties.
Which Beer Store locations are closing?
Effective Oct. 19, The Beer Store is shuttering the following retail locations in Ontario:
882 Ward St., Bridgenorth8647 Hwy. #60, Eganville89 Main St. S., Forest21 Ontario St. N., Grand Bend398 King St. W., Harrow53 Meredith St. E., Little Current33 Argyle St., Markdale142 David St. N., Noëlville3078 Don Mills Rd., North York704 Main St., Sauble Beach900A Don Mills Rd., Unit #100, Toronto800 Gerrard St. E., Toronto
Customers can find open Beer Store locations online or search for another place to buy beer by visiting the province’s website.
Where should you return your empties?
The Beer Store says customers can continue returning alcohol containers to one of their open locations or to an empty return dealer in order to get their deposit back. These containers include: beer, wine and spirits bottles, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, tetra packs and kegs.
Starting Jan. 1, 2026, all grocery stores that sell alcohol must accept the return of empties and refund customer deposits, according to the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission.
Why is The Beer Store closing some retail locations?
The 12 new closures come more than a year after Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a deal that will speed up his plan to allow beer in the province’s corner stores, and require the government to funnel up to $225-million to the Beer Store chain.
The government said the new deal, which will also allow beer, wine, cider and premixed drinks in all grocery and big-box stores as well as convenience stores, will give Ontarians up to 8,500 more places to buy booze – ending the Beer Store’s dominance over beer sales, which dates back a century to the end of Prohibition.
The $225-million will go toward covering wages and other costs to keep a minimum number of Beer Store locations open, as the chain is a key part of the province’s recycling system. The money also came with a pledge to keep at least 386 of the Beer Store’s 422 outlets open until July, 2025, and at least 300 running until the end of this year.
The Beer Store said its recycling program will continue until at least 2031.
Only 450 grocery-store locations were allowed to offer wine and beer under the previous Beer Store agreement. The new deal, announced May 24, 2024, will allow all grocery stores, big-box stores and corner stores to sell the 12 and 24 packs now exclusively sold at the Beer Store, as well as 30 packs.
Ontario to pay $225-million to Beer Store to speed up corner-store sales
What are Ontario’s rules for beer and alcohol sales?
As of Sept. 5, 2024, all licensed convenience stores in Ontario are able to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages. By Oct. 31, 2024, all licensed grocery stores and big-box grocery stores were also able to sell alcohol, including in large pack sizes.
The stores will be allowed to sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Spirits are only available in LCBO stores and outlets.
All licensed convenience stores in Ontario have been able to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages since Sept. 5, 2024.Christopher Katsarov/The Globe and Mail
Which other Beer Store locations are set to close this year?
The chain has already announced several other closures, including the following shutdowns, set to take effect on Aug. 24:
711 Mackenzie St. E., Atikokan115 Causley St., Blind River160 Oak St., Bothwell3098 Falconbridge Hwy., Garson1160 Beaverwood Rd., Manotick760 Main St., Powassan8825 Yonge St., Richmond Hill1089 Kingston Rd., Scarborough772 The Queensway, Toronto720 Spadina Ave., Toronto
Ten more stores are expected to close on Sept. 14, including:
2020 Appleby Line, Burlington3322 5 Hwy. #17, Deep River229 Dundurn St. S, Hamilton12334 Hwy. #41, Northbrook1910 St. Laurent Blvd., OttawaErie St. S, #21 Hwy, Ridgetown4479 Kingston Rd, Scarborough41 Front St, Sioux Lookout636 Greenwood Ave., Toronto4681 Hwy # 7, Unionville
And on Sept. 28, 11 more locations will close, including:
3025 Hwy. #169, Bala10585 Bramalea Rd., Bldg. D., Brampton30 Mill St., Clinton111 Main St., Morrisburg49 Stover St. S., Norwich35 Birks Dr., Red Lake167 Queen St., Rodney24585 Hwy. #7, Sharbot Lake4145 Harold Ave, South Porcupine156 Mission Rd., Wawa482 Josephine St., Wingham
With reports from Jeff Gray and The Canadian Press