Ontario’s Alcohol Retail Landscape is Changing Rapidly
As Ontario continues its gradual shift toward a more open and competitive alcohol marketplace, The Beer Store is scaling back its retail footprint across the province. The government’s ongoing initiative to allow beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages to be sold in more locations—such as convenience stores, supermarkets, and big-box retailers—is reshaping the traditional retail model for alcohol sales.
As part of this transformation, a growing number of Beer Store locations have been permanently closing their doors.
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August Saw 10 Closures — But September Will See Even More
Just last month, on August 24, 10 Beer Store outlets across Ontario ceased operations permanently. That trend is set to continue into September, with 21 more locations scheduled to shut down in a staggered rollout.
- 10 stores will close on September 14
- An additional 11 will follow on September 28
The Beer Store Responds to Market Changes
“The Beer Store is adapting to changes in the retail market in Ontario,” said Ozzie Ahmed, Vice President of Retail at The Beer Store, in an official statement announcing the closures scheduled for late September.
“This is an ongoing process and includes making the difficult decision to close some retail locations. We know this is difficult for customers, employees and the communities where we operate.”
Ontario Beer Store Closures Make Bottle Returns More Difficult
Full List of Beer Store Closures Scheduled for September 2025
Closing on September 14:
These locations will permanently close at the end of the business day on Saturday, September 14:
- Toronto – 636 Greenwood Avenue
- Scarborough – 4479 Kingston Road
- Unionville – 4681 Hwy #7
- Burlington – 2020 Appleby Line
- Hamilton – 229 Dundurn Street South
- Ridgetown – Erie Street South
- Northbrook – 12334 Hwy #41
- Ottawa – 1910 St. Laurent Boulevard
- Deep River – 3322 Hwy #17
- Sioux Lookout – 41 Front Street
Closing on September 28:
The following stores will shut down operations at the end of the day on Saturday, September 28:
- Brampton – 10585 Bramalea Road, Building D
- Bala – 3025 Highway #169
- Clinton – 30 Mill Street
- Morrisburg – 111 Main Street
- Norwich – 49 Stover Street South
- Red Lake – 35 Birks Drive
- Rodney – 167 Queen Street
- Sharbot Lake – 24585 Highway #7
- South Porcupine – 4145 Harold Avenue
- Wawa – 156 Mission Road
- Wingham – 482 Josephine Street
What This Means for Shoppers and Local Communities
These closures will likely impact customer convenience in affected areas, especially in smaller towns and rural communities where alternative alcohol retailers may be limited. While more retail options may become available through grocery and convenience outlets, long-time Beer Store patrons may face changes in service, pricing, and product availability.
In addition to customer impact, the closures will affect store employees and their families, with job losses anticipated as the company consolidates its operations.
Here are 10 Beer Store locations that just shut down across Ontario
Looking Ahead: More Changes Likely in the Future
With the province expected to continue expanding alcohol availability through additional retail channels, more closures may be on the horizon for The Beer Store and similar legacy retailers. The next few months will be key in shaping how beer and other alcoholic beverages are sold across Ontario.