LCBO to close 7 locations during G20

Better start stocking up now. The LCBO will close seven downtown stores during the G20 summit.

“This action is being taken to minimize risks to customers and staff and reduce traffic congestion in the downtown core,” the LCBO says in a notice on its website.

The stores that will closed Friday through Sunday include:

* Queens Quay, 2 Cooper Street

* First Canadian Place

* Union Station

* St. Lawrence Market, 87 Front Street West

* Loblaws Plaza, 10 Lower Jarvis Street at Queens Quay

* 415 King Street West at Spadina Avenue

* 337 Spadina Avenue, north of Dundas at Baldwin Street

“It’s probably good advice to look at Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and get in early and get ahead of it. It will probably be busy on the Thursday at those locations that are going to close,” said Chris Layton, spokesperson for the provincial liquor retailer.

“We have 70 stores in the city of Toronto alone. If people need to do some shopping at the LCBO during the weekend, there will be a lot of other options for them.”

Employees of the seven shuttered stores will be redeployed to nearby LCBO locations, which will likely see a spike in business, Layton said.

For those Queen’s Quay residents thinking they can dodge the temporary prohibition by going to Vineyards Estate Wines across from the Harbourfront Centre, you’d better buy your vino as you head home from work Friday.

The store is will be closed Saturday and Sunday for safety reasons, said employee Daniel Chan.

“The last thing you want to do is have customers in the store if something happens. It’s purely it for safety reasons,” he said.

Shoppers stock up on their liquor supply in June 2009, the eve before a possible strike by the LCBO staff. That cart looks like a weekend supply to me. Photo: Tara Walton

Don't stop ... just postpone

Yes, the “Rock of Ages” cast is taking a hiatus for the G20. But don’t worry, says star Tony LePage. Believing has simply been postponed, not stopped altogether.