After learning that big-box grocery stores are allowed to sell alcohol, CTV News decided to check in with local convenience stores to see how sales are going.

Store owners were given the green light to sell alcohol on September 5. We spoke with two store owners in the Greater Sudbury area.

Himanshu Patel, owner of Douglas Variety, said alcohol sales really boosted his bottom line. (Alana Everson/CTV News)

Himanshu Patel has operated Douglas Variety for 15 years with his wife. In early September, he began selling alcohol in his convenience store.

“It’s going well – it’s helped with business and everything and it’s convenient for customers too,” Patel said.

Patel said it was open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and sold alcohol during those hours. He added that sales had exceeded his forecasts and that this was also helping to boost sales of other items.

“The customers like it,” he said.

“They had convenience and they had anytime, anywhere and close.”

Amit Parmar owns three Kwik-Way stores in Hanmer, Val Caron and Minnow Lake.

Parmar said convenience is a big attraction for customers.

Amit Parmar owns three Kwik-Way stores in Hanmer, Val Caron and Minnow Lake. (Alana Everson/CTV News)

“They’re happy they don’t have to wait in line at the LCBO or the Beer Store on the way home,” he said.

“They can stop, they can buy their milk, they can buy their cigarettes, they can buy their lottery and they can also buy their drinks. So, they have been very happy.”

Parmar said his biggest challenge is pricing, given that delivery costs are based on volume. And he said product prices can change from week to week.

Still learning

“We are (still) learning when it comes to pricing and billing,” he said.

“We received the product, but we weren’t billed for four weeks, so everyone was estimating the price. No stores tried to price goug, but we’re still learning more about delivery costs and all these things.”

At Douglas Variety, Patel said that when it comes to alcohol sales, 75 percent of customers are regulars and 25 percent are passers-by. He explained that the busiest times for sales are evenings and public holidays.

“You know when the LCBO brewery closes, the days are very busy,” he said.

“Almost more than double.”

Patel said he has yet to have to turn away a customer trying to buy alcohol due to intoxication.

He added that he asks customers under 25 for ID almost daily.