The Beer Store will shutter another 10 retail outlets across Ontario on Sept. 14, including the Deep River location continuing a wave of closures that has seen 83 locations slated to close since May 2024.
The latest round will affect stores in the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Burlington, Hamilton and several smaller communities in eastern and northern Ontario.
“The retail market for beer is changing in Ontario, and for The Beer Store that means making the difficult decision to close some retail locations,” said Ozzie Ahmed, vice-president of retail, in a statement. “This is not an easy decision and not one we make lightly.”
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 12R24, which represents Beer Store employees, called the closures a blow to both workers and customers.
“This is terrible news,” said union president John Nock. “We’re not seeing jobs created—only good-paying union jobs being lost.”
Nock warned the closures will also undermine Ontario’s bottle return system. The Beer Store handles more than 1.6 billion returns annually, and some Ontarians may now have to travel farther to drop off empties.
The closures follow increased competition from grocery and convenience stores, especially since Ontario expanded its ready-to-drink alcohol market last year.
The Beer Store notes that all grocery stores licensed to sell alcohol will be required to accept empty returns starting Jan. 1, 2026, as part of the province’s retail alcohol modernization.
(Richard Evans)