Convenience store owners are getting ready for an increase in foot traffic, as alcohol sales will be permitted in those stores beginning Thursday.
As of Sept. 5, 22 stores across Wellington County have been given the green light to sell beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Included in the count are several stores in Centre Wellington, Arthur and Mount Forest. It’s not known if every store will be ready to sell alcohol ahead of Thursday.
Over 4,100 licences have been approved in Ontario.
Store owners we spoke to are expressing nervous excitement ahead of time.
“We are excited and worried about it at the same time for how it can affect the business," said Kapil Kumar, the owner of A Quick Stop Variety on Yorkshire in Guelph.
"We are looking forward (to it), it’s definitely (going to) increase the fruit fall for our stores. Our margin is very thin on those items, but still we’re going to see how it’s going to go.”
“It’s a really good decision for every convenience store (to do this),” said Ketan Shah, owner of Dovercliffe Shoppers Mart, adding businesses have seen dips since the pandemic with higher grocery prices being a factor.
There are concerns within stores that are near schools. There are also concerns about security.
Shah equates some of the concerns to the concerns expressed when retail cannabis stores began to open.
“Everybody was like it’s going to be a little bit tough, but as you can see, it’s every other corner, there’s lots of (cannabis) stores,” he said.
Kumar said despite any concerns, it makes business sense to make this move along with other stores.
“We have concern about neighbour safety and everything, but at the same time, we have to get this new thing in order to compete with other stores,” he said.
“If I’m not going to bring these things, my customers (will) move to another place.”
Here are the convenience stores approved to sell alcohol this Thursday:
WELLINGTON NORTH
- Bargain Mart Variety & Hanna’s Kitchen, 129 Birmingham St. W., Apt. 3 - Mount Forest
- Circle K/Petro-Canada, 310 Main St. S. - Mount Forest
- Mobil Mart, 504 Main St. N. - Mount Forest
- Village Variety, 124 George St. - Arthur
- New Meroon Market, 197 George St. - Arthur
- Shell, 321 Smith St., Arthur
ELORA
- Elora Mart, 16 Mill St. E., Suite 3
- Hilltop Variety, 58 Wellington Rd. 7, Suite 4
FERGUS
- Thirteen Petroleum, 550 Garafraxa St. E.
- Quick Pick Variety, 735 Tower St. S.
- Hasty Market, 165 Tower St. N
- East Side Shell, 290 Scotland St.
- Circle K, 101 St. Andrew St. E.
- Shell, 777 Tower St. S.
- CH Convenience, 860 Tower St. S., Unit 6
- Esso, 810 St. David St. N.
ERIN
- Brisbane Convenience and Gas Bar, 9408 Wellington Rd. 124
- Erin Village Convenience, 56 Main St.
- Erin Esso, 61 Main St.
- Erin Express Variety & Video, 9 Main St., Unit 2
MINTO
- Circle K/Esso, 251 Elora St. S. - Harriston
- Jay’s Variety, 105 Main St. E. - Palmerston
