The Beer Store – Queen and Bathurst

Since this beer store is about to be, you guessed it, mowed down to make way for a condo, I thought I should plug it while you can still experience first class beer vending by dedicated professional employees. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve parked right in front of their door, illegally, and jumped in the place, patiently waiting in line for my turn to order. They are the fastest, most on-​the-​ball people when it comes to slinging the two-​fours. Amen to that, when you’re in a hurry. And when I was off work and one of my routines was to walk there and carry home a bag of tall cans of import suds, the location ruled, and even though it was near the colourful intersection of Bathurst and Queen St. W., with the hot sun beating down on the concrete, they never let me down!

Well since prices don’t really come in to play in Ontario (Government regulated) the way one sells there are few factors one can use to set themself apart i.e. location, variety and service.
The location though accessible for this area has its own share of issues.
The place also had a couple of people looking for trouble and I commend the sales person for dealing with the situation calmly (I guess they are used it) this did make me feel out of place and I wanted to bolt out of there.
The selection is somewhat decent and they carry some of the Unibrue stuff I desire (maudite and Chambley)
Service is quick but the location and setup makes me not recommend it. Go here only if you need to.

A couple of things — firstly, it’s crummy that The Beer Store is pretty much a beer monopoly here in Ontario. The notion that Labatt and Molson should get to choose which beers we buy is a drag, but whatever. I have to admit that even if I had all the choices in the world, I’d likely stick with many of the big name brands that The Beer Store sells. Regardless, it’s kind of crazy that the government sold this license to just the big guys, boxing out so many of the microbreweries that have popped up in ON.
Secondly, why can people return ALL THE TIME!?! Here’s what you do — returns are from 11 AM till 4 PM Monday to Friday and Sunday. Why do we need these rules? Because I’m sick and tired of waiting behind the old dude bringing back a thousand stinking cans when I drop by after work for a six pack. Why couldn’t he have gotten all that together earlier in the day?! It’s not a huge deal, but then again, it wouldn’t be a huge deal to implement ‘return hours’ so that at crazy busy times (most days after 5 and especially Friday and Saturday afternoons and night) all staff would be focused on getting beer purchasers out the door.
Apart from those things, The Beer Store is the private monopoly that allows me to buy beer without walking all the way to Spadina. For that I salute it (until the new LCBO opens up at College and Manning, then it’s so long, suckers!).