COCHRANE - Days after alcohol sales are allowed at convenience stores, the doors to Cochrane's beer store are closing.
The Beer Store has confirmed that the 8 James Bay Rd. location in Cochrane is permanently closing on Sept. 9.
"We are pleased to announce that nearly all impacted employees will be offered job opportunities at other Beer Store locations in the area," said Ozzie Ahmed, The Beer Store's vice president of retail, said in an email to TimminsToday.
For several weeks, there have been rumours circulating online that the Cochrane location of The Beer Store is closing.
At the Aug. 13 council meeting, Mayor Peter Politis said it seemed as though the town’s beer store location was being impacted by the province’s decision to expand alcohol sales in both convenience and grocery stores. Those sales start on Sept. 5.
In Cochrane, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has approved two licences for convenience stores that will be able to sell alcohol — the Cochrane Truck Stop at 99 Hwy. 11 S., and COSTCAN Liquor at 143 Fourth St. W. Unit B.
SEE: 'There still isn't a lot of answers': Cochrane mayor talks potential beer store closure
SEE: Ford's beer plan brews a bad batch for the north
The Beer Store locations in Geraldton and Nipigon are also set to close next month.
Gordon Mackenzie, a former Nipigon councillor wrote to The Beer Store president, highlighting the impacts of the closure on the community, noting his concerns that the closure will add to the long-standing issues of vacant buildings populating the downtown core and the loss of job opportunities. The community has also noted that The Beer Store is the only location to return empties to.
- With files from TBNewswatch
