Gananoque Beer Store to close amid province-wide changes

The closure will take effect on Nov. 16.

A nearby Beer Store location is one of seven slated to close in Ontario.

The Gananoque Beer Store will officially close effective Nov. 16, part of a broader series of changes announced by The Beer Store across Ontario. The closure comes as the province moves forward with its plan to allow beer, wine, cider, and ready-to-drink beverages to be sold in more retail outlets, including convenience and grocery stores.

Gananoque residents who have relied on the King Street East location, will need to shift to nearby stores or explore the new retail options once expanded sales begin. While the Beer Store has said most closures are tied to evolving shopping patterns, the company also noted that job impacts will vary depending on the location.

KingstonDaily.ca did reach out for comment from The Beer Store and VP of Retail Ozzie Ahmed issued the following statement:

“Where we buy beer and return empties in Ontario is changing. The Beer Store is modernizing operations to meet evolving consumer expectations. Unfortunately, this includes making the difficult decision to closure some stores. This is not a decision The Beer Store makes lightly, and we only make such a decision after careful consideration. We know this is difficult news for customers, employees, and the community.”

The Town and local residents are awaiting more details on when the Gananoque store will close and how the transition will affect deposit returns and recycling services, which are currently managed through the Beer Store system.

The Beer Store (TBS) will close the following retail stores:

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

Story by Tim Baltz