By Kathy Rowe
Brewers Retail has announced to its employees that our neighbourhood Beer Store in Centennial Plaza will be closing its doors this month. This time there is no turning back. We have it from reliable sources that our Beer Store is one of four Scarborough stores closing at the end of February.
The Beer Store is owned by big brewers, primarily Molsons, Sleemans and Labatts. Many more stores across the province will be shutting their doors due to Doug Ford’s plan to have grocery and convenience stores sell beer and wine. Sue-Gar Variety, just steps away from our Beer Store, is now stocking beer and coolers. Wine will follow soon.
Our local store has never moved a lot of product compared to other locations, but according to an employee at another Beer Store location, our store is known as a “legacy store” that has likely been in the plaza since the mid-1970s. In addition, it is one of the few Scarborough stores that sells kegs.
Word on the street states that the current full-time employees will be transferred, but the part-timers could be without work.
Currently, grocery stores that sell beer within five kilometres of a Beer Store are exempt from processing returns. As of January 1, 2026, all grocery stores in Ontario that sell alcohol will need to accept empty beer bottles and provide refunds. Most grocery stores are not happy with this impending policy.
So where can our residents take their returns as of March? The closest Beer Store locations are: Morningside and Kingston Rd, Morningside and Milner, Whites Rd and Kingston Rd, and Cedarbrae Mall.
Centennial residents have counted for a long time on the friendly service at our local Beer Store, and the opportunities to engage in fundraising initiatives. It will be missed.