THUNDER BAY – Thirsty shoppers in Thunder Bay will have a couple more places to pick up suds starting this summer.
The province has given the OK to a pair of grocery outlets to start carrying beer as of June 30, just in time for the Canada weekend.
Metro on River Street and the Memorial Avenue Wal-Mart got the go-ahead, two of 70 additional stores across Ontario authorized to sell beer. Safeway locations on Dawson Road and Arthur Street, as well as the Real Canadian Superstore on Carrick Street, have been selling beer since last year, when the province first legalized it in certain grocery stores through a competitive bidding process.
The move ups the number of outlets in Ontario from 130 to 206.
Grocers selling beer, cider or wine must have designated sales areas and operate within standard hours of sale.
The province ultimately plans to allow sales of beer, wine and cider in up to 450 grocery stores.
