Edmonton’s city council has loosened regulations around some liquor stores in the city.
An amendment was made to a bylaw Monday that will now allow liquor stores to operate within 500 metres of each other in large commercial centres in newer neighbourhoods.
Local independent liquor stores said the change makes it even more difficult to compete in an already challenging market.
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Sherbrooke Liquor owner David Owens said the big box stores benefit most from the decision.
“I’m fully prepared to compete with them and I do compete with them. We offer a very different business and I am a different business than they are, but it does push to that discount out there. The more of that that’s out there, it does make it tougher for those of us that are in the community and are community owned stores,” Owens said.
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Owens believes the change will discourage other locally owned businesses from opening in the city.
“It makes it difficult for smaller boutique stores from opening. We don’t have the same kind of funds that even the Liquor Depot does or Costco, or whatever,” Owens said.
“We’re working on building a brand, a business that we’re passionate about and giving customer service. That’s how we compete at the end of the day.”
The 500-metre separation distance will remain in effect for all mature neighbourhoods.