A former Beer Store in London, Ontario, is currently undergoing a transformation from an empty shell into a vibrant café, dining area, and catering center for one of Canada’s highly sought-after restaurants. Cintro, recognized as one of the top 100 restaurants in the country, is facing high demand, with reservations fully booked for the next two months and nightly waitlists ranging from 20 to 100 people.
Chef Joe Tran’s dynamic Asian-fusion dishes have made the cozy 28-seat restaurant a popular destination, prompting the team to relocate to a larger space in a former Beer Store. The new Lotus and Lime café and Lanoa Restaurant will have a capacity for up to 120 diners, bringing excitement to the owners.
Meanwhile, another former Beer Store nearby has been repurposed as a pet store, one of the numerous outlets in Ontario that closed due to Premier Doug Ford’s alcohol expansion plan but quickly found new tenants. However, the challenge of replacing the Beer Store’s recycling system, which handled a significant volume of empty alcohol containers annually, proves to be more complex.
Grocery stores are now tasked with accepting returns, but only a fraction of the required stores are currently doing so. Many grocers are hesitant due to the operational challenges and costs associated with handling dirty empties, leading to concerns about the future of the recycling system. The province may face resistance from grocers, with some considering relinquishing their licenses rather than taking on the Beer Store’s former responsibilities.
As the issue unfolds, industry representatives emphasize the need for further discussions and potential solutions to prevent a recycling crisis. The transition to a new system poses significant challenges, with grocers evaluating various factors before making decisions regarding alcohol sales and recycling responsibilities. The province aims to address these challenges to ensure the sustainability of the recycling system for the future.
