LCBO Coming to Roncesvalles Area

People love living in Roncesvalles and people love their beer, wine and liquor, but shopping at an LCBO will only require leaving the neighbourhood for one more year.

The LCBO has decided to open up shop in the plaza at the southeast corner of Dundas and Bloor, alongside a Loblaws and Zellers. If all goes according to plan, Roncesvalles residents will be able to walk for their wine in spring or summer of 2010 - most likely before their street is done being dug up.

The chosen location is, admittedly, not exactly in the Village, but a site further south along Roncesvalles was eliminated due to a number of issues: retail floor space, storage, deliveries and parking all being cited. The Roncesvalles BIA has long lobbied for an LCBO to serve its residents and seems satisfied that the final location is accessible enough, even if the government-run monopoly isn't right in the neighbourhood. I can only assume the nearly 300 members of the Facebook group "petitioning" for a Roncesvalles LCBO will also be pleased.

Ultimately, the LCBO is happy to be opening up in the plaza. "We're looking forward to opening at this location," says LCBO VP Jackie Bonic. "It will enable us to provide the community with a larger LCBO store with greater product selection, a wide range of services and ample parking for customers who choose to drive."

Bonic also noted that the proximity to Loblaws allows shoppers to combine grocery and beverage shopping trips into one. Maybe the LCBO is hoping that they'll get extra business from Loblaws shoppers, but with a giant No Frills at Dundas and Lansdowne, perhaps it will be the relatively small Loblaws hoping to see more business from LCBO customers.

The new store will feature 5,600 square feet of retail space with an extensive product selection, including a Vintages area and large VQA selection. Plus, for last minute runs, there will be plenty of refrigerated bottles.

It's safe to say that Roncesvalles residents will embrace the opportunity to more easily access wine and spirits. Will it be a pedestrian destination, stop on the streetcar or a short drive? I'm guessing the latter.

And as one resident has already suggested, perhaps it will be time to add a signal to the parking lot entrance and exit with the added traffic a large-scale LCBO is certain to bring.

Map image created by Dale Fallon.