Beer Store to close four more Ontario locations after government agreement ends
The Beer Store confirmed four outlets will shut on March 22, the first closures after a $225-million provincial deal that capped store exits expired.
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By Torontoer Staff
The Beer Store confirmed on Monday that it will close four outlets across Ontario on March 22, the first round of shutdowns since a government agreement that limited closures expired. The affected sites are in Brampton, Etobicoke, Hamilton and London.
The closures follow the end of a 2024 deal under which the provincial government paid the Beer Store $225 million to allow corner stores, convenience outlets and big box retailers to sell beer and other ready-to-drink beverages. That funding came with conditions, including keeping 300 Beer Store locations open through the end of 2025 and mitigating job losses.
Which Beer Store locations are closing
- Brampton, 11 Worthington Ave., Brampton, ON, L7A 2Y7
- Etobicoke, 1735 Kipling Ave., Etobicoke, ON, M9R 2Y8
- Hamilton, 75 Centennial Parkway N., Hamilton, ON, L8E 2P2
- London, 1727 Richmond St., London, ON, N5X 3Y2
Why closures are resuming
With the $225-million payment fully disbursed and the contractual limit on closures expired, the Beer Store says it can now adjust its retail footprint to match shifting consumer demand. The company noted the retail marketplace in Ontario is 'evolving and stabilizing' and said it will focus on operating a network that provides a broad selection of beer and a deposit return system.
The retail marketplace in Ontario continues to evolve and stabilize. As a business we are focused on operating a retail network that meets evolving consumer needs, providing the largest selection of beer and a world class deposit return system.
The Beer Store
The March closures follow earlier shutdowns this month, when three locations closed on Jan. 11 and another on Jan. 18. Late last year the Beer Store came close to the maximum number of allowed closures under the government agreement, while officials confirmed the full $225 million had been spent.
What this means for recycling and returns
Concerns about the future of empty-bottle returns eased after grocers and brewers reached an agreement to fund continued collection of empties at Beer Store sites. Under the broad terms, grocers will cover costs so consumers can keep exchanging empties for deposits at Beer Store locations, and brewers committed to ensuring most people have a recycling point within 10 kilometres.
Those arrangements followed months of talks facilitated by the provincial government, prompted by requirements tied to the original expansion plan. The rules had obligated grocery stores more than five kilometres from a Beer Store to accept returns, and extended that obligation to all grocers selling alcohol as of Jan. 1. Some grocers had warned they would stop selling alcohol if the program did not improve.
Potential impacts for workers and shoppers
Job losses at Beer Store locations were a central concern when the 2024 deal was negotiated. The funding intended to limit layoffs and keep a minimum number of stores operating through 2025. With that timeline passed, further closures could affect staff at the sites slated to shut. The Beer Store has said it remains focused on mitigating impacts as it restructures its network.
For shoppers, the immediate effect will be that those four addresses will no longer accept returns or sell Beer Store stock after March 22. The agreements among grocers and brewers aim to keep recycling access available, but convenience and selection will vary by neighbourhood.
What to watch next
Expect further adjustments to the Beer Store network as the company responds to a retail landscape where beer sales are increasingly available at grocery and convenience chains. The provincial government and industry groups continue to monitor implementation of the recycling arrangements and the broader alcohol retail expansion.
This report includes files from The Canadian Press.
Beer StoreOntarioretailclosuresrecycling
