prices at convenience stores vary, but they are typically a few cents higher per unit than at the beer store or lcbo.
unlike the lcbo, heavy spirits such as whisky, rum, vodka and gin can’t be sold at corner stores.
“when we took over last september, the business was barely there,” balakrishnan said. “when we bought it, the main goal was to get more people in.”
anything helps for a place that proudly displays an “our first dollar” earned bill behind the counter, hoping to capitalize on the neighbourhood’s boom in condo and apartment construction.
hence, putting beer on the shelves.
“if people come in for a can of beer, they might say, ‘hey, there’s a good café, with a good menu,’” he said. “for me, again, it’s kind of like the same thing with people buying cigarettes.”
he acknowledged “mixed feelings” in the community about the change and that there was an additional responsibility that came with selling liquor. all store clerks must be trained in how to serve responsibly.
at the same time, he says, it’s no different than what has been happening at dépanneurs in gatineau.
for generations, ottawa residents have taken advantage of looser liquor laws in quebec, popping across the ottawa river to buy beer, which is typically cheaper than ontario prices. as of 2019, it became legal for ontario residents to buy limited amounts of booze across the provincial border.