More beer stores in Ontario are abruptly closing down including two in Toronto

The Beer Store in Ontario is preparing to shut down four locations across the province in June, following dozens of other closures earlier this year. 

In a news release on its website, The Beer Store revealed that two locations in Toronto, namely those at 761 Queen St. W. and 1270 Woodbine Ave. in East York, would be closing for good on June 15. 

Two other stores in Ontario, including one at 7676 Islington Ave. in Woodbridge and one at 2144 Carling Ave. in Ottawa, will also be shutting down on the same day. 

In addition, the company noted that The Beer Store site in Sault Ste. Marie, located at 250 Bruce St., will be closing its retail footprint and transforming fully to a distribution warehouse to "better service the needs" of customers. 

"The Beer Store has been in business for over 97 years, and we take pride in serving our customers with the best service possible while offering a wide selection of beer and an easy to return empty process," said Ozzie Ahmed, Vice President of Retail. 

"However, as the marketplace shifts, we must adapt our business model to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our customers. We are closely monitoring the performance of each store and at times may need to make the challenging decision to close select stores." 

The closures, which have only multiplied since the beginning of the year, come just a few months after the provincial government expanded alcohol retail sales to corner and convenience stores across Ontario. 

"While we acknowledge that closures can be disappointing for our loyal customers and the dedicated employees who work in these stores, 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," Ahmed added. 

On Sunday, several other stores in southwest and northern Ontario, including locations in Kitchener (400 King. St. W.), London (514 Adelaide St. N.), Corunna (195 St. Clair Blvd.), Erin (140 Main St.), and Hearst (1106 Front St.), will shut their doors.

In March, the Beer Store also shut down eight of its stores in North York, Scarborough, Newmarket, Ottawa, Kingston, East York, and Etobicoke.

When previously asked about the influx of closures, Ahmed told blogTO that "like any retailer in today's evolving marketplace for beverage alcohol, [The Beer Store is] continually evaluating our business operations to ensure we’re meeting the needs of our customers and adapting to change."

He added that "The Beer Store is closely watching" their retail stores and "making decisions on what makes the most sense" for how the retailer "operates as a business." 

Multiple Toronto Beer Store locations have already closed, including stores at Yonge and Dundas, Queens Quay, and Roncesvalles, as well as those in areas like Barry's Bay, Marmora, Geraldton, Nipigon, Cochrane, Stratford, Burlington, London, Scarborough, Thedford, Westport, and Chapleau.