CLOSURE: 5 more Beer Store locations to shut down in Ontario

Five more locations of The Beer Store are set to close next month.

The president of UFCW Canada Local 12R24, which represents workers at The Beer Store, confirmed the closures in an email sent to INsauga.com.

John Nock said that the following stores are set to shut down:

• In Corunna, which is south of Sarnia, at 195 St. Clair Boulevard
• London, at 514 Adelaide Street North
• Kitchener, at 400 King Street West
• Erin, at 140 Main Street
• and in Hearst in northern Ontario at 1106 Front Street

They’re set to close on April 27, Nock said, adding that he’s not yet sure how many jobs may be lost.

He attributed it to Ontario’s recently expanded alcohol marketplace, in which thousands of convenience stores, as well as additional grocery stores, are now able to sell booze.

The five additional closures will bring the total number of Beer Stores closed since May of last year to 28, Nock said.

The Beer Store confirmed the latest closures in an email sent to INsauga.com.

“Like any retailer in today’s evolving marketplace for beverage alcohol, we are continually evaluating our business operations to ensure we’re meeting the needs of our customers and adapting to change,” said Ozzie Ahmed, the vice president of retail for The Beer Store.

“The Beer Store is closely watching our retail stores and making decisions on what makes the most sense for how we operate as a business. Any decision we make considers our commitment to serving our customers.”

The Beer Store noted that empties can still be returned to the stores that remain open, as well as at alternative locations which can be found on the Ontario government website.

“As per the new agreement announced last summer, grocery stores that fall outside of a five-kilometre radius of a (Beer Store) location and sell beer will be required to take back empties starting Jan. 1, 2026,” they added.