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Ontario’s Beer Store has added another seven locations to its growing list of closures as alcohol sales rise in the province’s grocery and convenience stores.
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The latest announcement on Sept. 15 brings the long-time beer retailer’s total number of closed or soon-to-be-closed locations to 69.
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“To meet the needs of an evolving retail market, The Beer Store is making the difficult decision to close retail locations and is committed to meeting the requirements of the Early Implementation Agreement,” The Beer Store’s vice-president retail, Ozzie Ahmed, said in a press release. “We know this is difficult news for consumers, recyclers and our employees.”
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Ahmed said selling beer and collecting empties in Ontario is changing as part of marketplace expansion.
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Following the provincial government’s news in May 2024 about accelerated timelines for expanding alcohol sales in corner and grocery stores, The Beer Store said that it would remain the primary distributor of beer in Ontario. It is also set to run its recycling program until at least 2031.
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The retailer announced the first batch of store closures in April, however, then added more in the ensuing months.
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The Beer Store, legally operating as Brewers Retail Inc., is the largest beer retailer in Ontario and currently employs 6,500 full- and part-time workers. Last year, it distributed beer to more than 13,000 customers, it said.
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Also on Monday, The Beer Store said it has launched a new store locator on its website for returning empties, which it said will make it easier for customers to find a Beer Store or alternative retailer that is accepting empties.
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“We’ve been accepting empties and returning customer deposit money for generations — we are recycling leaders,” said Ahmed. “Ontarians want to recycle — we’re making it simple and convenient to find Beer Store and other authorized locations.”
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The beer retailer said it encourages customers to continue returning the more than 1.6 billion alcohol containers it processes annually to one of its locations or an empty return dealer located close by.
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It said alcohol containers purchased in Ontario, such as beer, wine and spirits bottles, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, tetra packs and kegs, can be returned to collect a deposit.
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All grocery stores that sell alcohol will be required to accept the return of empties and refund customer deposits starting Jan. 1, 2026, it said.
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Here’s a look at the upcoming closures and those that have already closed:
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Effective Nov. 16, 2025:
- Alexandria 118 Main St. N., Alexandria, ON, K0C 1A0
- Barrie 299 Blake St., Barrie, ON, L4M 1K7
- Brampton 374 Main St. N., Brampton, ON, L6V 1P8
- Beaverton 553 Mara Rd., Beaverton, ON, L0K 1A0
- Cornwall 960 Brookdale Ave., Unit 7, Cornwall, ON, K6J 4P5
- Gananoque 580 King St. E., Gananoque, ON, K7G 1H2
- South River 310 Hwy. #124, PO Box 160, South River, ON, P0A 1X0
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Effective Nov. 2, 2025:
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- London 1225 Wonderland Rd. N., London, ON, N6G 2B9
- Mattawa 511 Valois Dr., PO Box 628, Mattawa, ON, P0H 1V0
- Mississauga 3535 Etude Dr., Mississauga, ON, L4T 1T7
- Niagara Falls 4670 Bridge St., Niagara Falls, ON, L2E 2R8
- Pickering 1355 Kingston Rd., Pickering, ON, L1V 1B8
- Sudbury 891 Notre Dame Ave., Sudbury, ON, P3A 2T5
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