The Beer Store will be shutting down four more locations in Ontario, including three in the Greater Toronto Area, citing shifts in the marketplace.
Two stores in Toronto, 761 Queen St. W. and 1270 Woodbine Ave., will close on June 15, the company said in a news release Thursday, adding that they also plan to close the locations 7676 Islington Ave. W. in Woodbridge and a store at 2144 Carling Ave. in Ottawa at the same time.
“As the marketplace shifts, we must adapt our business model to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our customers,” said Ozzie Ahmed, vice president of retail at The Beer Store.
One store in Sault Ste. Marie will close its brick and mortar as it transitions to “transform fully to a distribution warehouse to better service the needs of our logistics customers in the market,” the release said.
Ahmed said the closures are “challenging” decisions but that “every decision we make is rooted in our commitment to being a sustainable business and ensure we can continue serving customers for many years to come.”
The Beer Store announced the closures of five Ontario stores in March and previously said that employees impacted by downsizing would be offered positions at nearby stores, if they were available.
“Throughout this process, we remain committed to treating our employees with respect, supporting them through transitions, and recognizing their contributions to our business,” the company said Thursday.
In October, the Star reported that provincial estimates showed that the Beer Store’s percentage of Ontario’s alcohol market is expected to plunge to 15 per cent by 2026-27 from 41.1 per cent in 2024 due to expanded alcohol retailing.
With files from Hayden Godfrey and Josh Rubin.
