Your local Beer Store might not be there much longer. And if you’re wondering why, the answer’s got everything to do with where you can now buy your weekend six-pack.
The Ontario beer store closing trend isn’t slowing down – it’s picking up speed. Over 90 locations have already shut their doors this year, and more closures are planned for the coming months. What started as a trickle has become a flood of shutdowns affecting communities from Toronto to small northern towns.
Why Are So Many Beer Stores Disappearing?
Last year changed everything for Ontario’s alcohol landscape. The Ford government kept a campaign promise and opened up beer sales to convenience stores, grocery chains, and big box retailers. That decision broke The Beer Store’s decades-long near-monopoly on beer sales in the province.
“The retail market for beer is changing in Ontario,” said Ozzie Ahmed, The Beer Store’s VP of Retail. “This is not an easy decision and not one we make lightly.”
But the writing was on the wall the moment you could grab a case of beer while picking up milk at your corner store.
Which Communities Are Affected?
The Ontario beer store closing impact is being felt across the province. Recent closures have hit major cities and small towns.
Toronto area closures have included locations at Yonge and Dundas, Queens Quay, and Roncesvalles. Brampton is losing stores on Bramalea Road. Hamilton, Burlington, and Ottawa have all seen locations close.
Smaller communities aren’t being spared either. Towns like Bala, Clinton, Red Lake, Wawa, and Wingham are all losing their local Beer Store locations.
For many of these smaller communities, the local Beer Store wasn’t just a place to buy beer – it was also the main spot to return empty bottles and cans for deposit refunds.
What This Means for Customers
The store closing trend is forcing customers to change their shopping habits. Where people used to make dedicated trips to The Beer Store, they can now grab beer during regular grocery runs or quick stops at convenience stores.
But there’s a catch. Those convenient new locations don’t always accept empty returns – at least not yet.
“There are fewer places to return empty cans,” said John Nock, president of UFCW Canada Local 12R24, which represents Beer Store employees.
The Empty Bottle Problem
Here’s something most people don’t think about:
What happens to all those empty beer bottles and cans when The Beer Store locations disappear?
The Beer Store processes about 1.6 billion alcohol containers annually. That’s a massive recycling operation that’s been quietly working behind the scenes for decades. As Ontario beer store closing continues, finding places to return empties is becoming a real headache for customers.
The government has a plan to fix this. Starting January 1st, all grocery stores that sell alcohol will be required to accept empty returns and refund customer deposits. But that’s still months away, and there are questions about whether these stores will actually follow through.
The Workers Caught in the Middle
Every Ontario beer store closing affects the employees who’ve worked at these locations, sometimes for years. The Beer Store says it’s committed to supporting workers through the transition, but that’s cold comfort when your workplace disappears.
“We know this is difficult for customers, employees and the communities where we operate,” Ahmed acknowledged in a recent statement.
Why The Beer Store Can’t Just Keep All Locations Open
You might wonder: why doesn’t The Beer Store just keep struggling locations open? The answer comes down to basic business reality.
When the government opened up beer sales to other retailers, it had to compensate The Beer Store for breaking their exclusive deal. The province set aside $225 million for the company as part of the transition.
But here’s the key detail: The Beer Store only has to keep 300 locations open until the end of 2025. After that, there are no restrictions on closures.
Currently, the Ontario beer store closing pace suggests they’re trying to get down to that minimum number as quickly as possible.
What Customers Can Do Now
If your local Beer Store is still open, you can continue returning empties there. The company encourages customers to keep using their recycling services at remaining locations.
For beer purchases, you now have more options than ever. Convenience stores across the province are stocked with popular brands. Grocery stores have expanded their beer selections. Even some big box retailers are getting into the game.
The Bigger Picture
The Ontario beer store closing wave represents more than just changing shopping habits. It’s the end of an era for Ontario’s unique approach to alcohol retail.
For decades, The Beer Store was a fixture in Ontario communities. The chain’s distinctive brown and orange branding was as much a part of the provincial landscape as Tim Hortons or Canadian Tire.
That’s changing fast. The future of alcohol retail in Ontario looks a lot more like the rest of North America – with beer available at the same places you buy everything else.
Looking Ahead
More Ontario beer store closing announcements are expected as 2025 winds down. Union representatives suggest up to 42 additional locations could close before year-end.
The company itself won’t say how many stores will remain open after their government agreement expires. What’s clear is that The Beer Store of 2026 will look very different from the large chain that once dotted the province.
What This Means for Small Towns
The Ontario beer store closing trend hits small communities especially hard. In many towns, The Beer Store was the only place to buy beer and return empties. When that closes, residents might have to drive to the next town over – or wait for local convenience stores to start carrying alcohol.
Some communities are pushing back. Local politicians and business groups are trying to convince The Beer Store to keep certain locations open, especially in areas where alternatives are limited.
The Environmental Impact
One underreported aspect of the Ontario beer store closing wave is what it means for recycling. The Beer Store’s system for collecting and processing empty containers was one of the most efficient in North America.
As that network shrinks, there are legitimate concerns about whether the new patchwork of grocery stores and convenience shops can handle the same volume of returns effectively.
Bottom Line
The Ontario beer store closing trend isn’t just about business – it’s about how Ontarians live, shop, and think about alcohol. Whether you see it as long-overdue modernization or the loss of something uniquely Ontario probably depends on how often you shopped at The Beer Store in the first place.
What’s certain is that change is happening fast. If you’ve got empties to return or want to shop at your local Beer Store, you might want to do it sooner rather than later.
Check The Beer Store’s website for the most current list of operating locations in your area.
