Alcohol potentially a saving grace for Ontario convenience stores as sales begin [Video]

Terry Yaldo never thought this day would come.

The owner of Midway Convenience in Windsor, Ont., says alcohol sales in corner stores – which officially began Thursday across the province – will be a “saving grace” for many small business owners.

“It’s going to save a lot of stores from potential closure. This will give us the boost of foot traffic that we need to survive,” said Yaldo, who also serves as chair of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association.

“We’re projecting anywhere from 30 to 40 per cent increase in overall sales and foot traffic. That can be the saving grace for a lot of small businesses.”

The move to let Ontario convenience stores sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink products was supercharged earlier this year.

In May, the Ford government paid The Beer Store $225 million to sign a new agreement on alcohol sales that would reduce its grip on the market, and allow as many as 8,500 new locations to begin selling booze.