7-11 withdraws application to serve alcohol at Oshawa location

7-Eleven Canada has withdrawn its appeal of an Alcohol and Gaming Commission Tribunal ruling that denied their application for a liquor licence for the 245 Wentworth Street location in Oshawa’s south end last spring.

The convenience store chain had applied in early 2021 to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission for licenses to allow the addition of a ‘bar’ to 61 stores in the province, including one at 245 Wentworth Street West in Oshawa, as well as 2 Rossland Road West in Ajax and 704 Kingston Road in Pickering.

All three municipalities submitted letters of opposition to the commission in February and the Tribunal denied 7-11’s application in May.

7-11 then appealed, but now has now elected to withdraw its Notice of Appeal.

“Since filing its appeal before the Tribunal, 7-Eleven Canada has been evaluating and developing plans to invest in and remodel its store at 245 Wentworth Street West for expanded fresh food and beer and wine service, should a licence be granted,” Lauren Cook of Lawson Lundel LLP of Vancouver, 7-11 Canada’s legal representative, said in a letter addressed to Melanie Mayhew-Hammond, a member of the City’s legal team. “In consideration of certain municipal zoning and Building Code requirements at this particular location at 245 Wentworth Street West, Oshawa, 7-Eleven Canada has determined that, at this time, it would be best to take further time to address these municipal requirements before proceeding with the licensing process for this particular site.”

To ensure there was no ambiguity in its stance The City of Oshawa passed a by-law in June prohibiting the “selling or consumption” of alcohol in convenience stores.

The Big City Mayor’s Caucus, which represents all cities in Ontario with a population of (or nearly) 100,000, also passed a resolution in opposition to the application.