The Bar Towel

There have been many threads and off board conversations about how laws in Ontario essentially prevent a "Great Beer" store from even opening.
That said, in smaller communities there are an increasing number of Agency stores. Could we not apply the same principle in Toronto? Why not have a Gourmet Agency store that carries good food and good beer?

If the management at said store chose to, could they put in an order for things not carried in other LCBO stores? It would also provide the LCBO with a practical "clearing house" for beers not selling well in the general population...

Is there any reason other then the general inertia of the system that this *can't* happen? I'm sure there are many that will mean it won't...

My understanding is that the Agency Store licenses are not issued in communities already serviced by an LCBO. Additionally, Agency Stores are not permitted to sell brands which are not currently part of the General List category, specifically brands which form part of the LCBO's Core List. The Agency Store is permitted to only purchase their product from the designated LCBO store outlined in their Agency Store license.

Given those parameters you should not be surprised to find that most Agency Stores will usally only stock cheap domestic spirits, canned beer and wine for under $10 bucks a litre.

Grand idea, unlikely to happen.

I have dealt with Agency stores near my cottage south of Bancroft. In order to receive a non-domestic beer you have to pull from a larger serving LCBO within distance of this agency store. I eventually listed Maudite at a store in Bancroft so I could also pull from the agency store in Cardif. Worked well for me. Eventually the store manager was also able to bring in Muskoka and Creemore.