Being from Montreal(Quebec) where you can buy alcohol pretty much anywhere (the SAQ, the supermarkets, the corner stores, the gas stations, etc.) the Beer Store is a bizarre and foreign concept to me. And the ones where you can't even get the beer yourself are even weirder. But ever since I first went to a Beer Store in Ottawa, I always thought it would be neat to revisit its concept, modernize its design and turn it into a boutique store specializing in various types of beers from all over the world.
On a recent trip to the Distillery District in Toronto, I discovered that my vision already exists! There's actually a Beer Boutique and it looks amazing.
The design is a mix of rustic and modern style with brick walls and old wooden shelves. Everything is displayed neatly and you can pick up your own beer. It's also very clean and doesn't smell! Check out the light under the shelves reflecting on the floor.
How awesome is the design of the cash area? It's simple but effective. Notice the industrial looking light fixture above the main display table. It goes very well with the style of the area which is a refurbished /moderrnized industrial victorian style.
It's not a huge store, but they managed to add really neat displays in various parts of the store.
I would love to redesign a Beer Store in Ottawa. I already thought of the color scheme that I think would suit the Westboro area very well (shown below). I'm thinking a new location on Richmond Rd, west of Churchills would be great. The American Apparel Store, located on the corner of Roosevelt, is closing, perhaps it's a great opportunity!
Photos : MoOt | Contemporist | Freddy in Space | Think Good |
Wow that's so cool! I had no idea these existed!
ReplyDeleteI wonder which locations would work best in Ottawa.. given the somewhat seedy clientele of the one on Rideau (it's my location, unfortunately), perhaps a new one on Elgin/Bank would be a great fit.
I think Westboro is the most ready for something like this but you're right about Bank near the new condos. It could work and hopefully set a new tone in the area
DeletePlease not Westboro! Westboro gets all the cool things while we over in Central East are stuck w/ boredom :( (hehe)
Delete:) If it was up to me there would be quite a few in many areas of Ottawa, including Central East.
Deletewow! that looks awesome, great design features too.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteI'm from Newfoundland and Labrador, and I find it strange that Ontario is the only jurisdiction on a national or sub-national level I know of where you can't buy alcohol anywhere but the LCBO or the Beer Store (or Wine Rack, but that's fewer in number than the other two).
ReplyDeleteIndeed. It's the weirdest thing. Thankfully Gatineau is just a few minutes away. But really I think they need to change this rule
DeleteI am not sure exactly what the laws are back home in New Brunswick but for the most part I believe you can only buy alcohol at NB Liquor stores. I think there are some small grocery stores in little towns that are allowed to sell alcohol, but I am not sure.
DeleteEven though I am used to that I find the system here in Ontario to be rather strange, with The Beer Store and Wine Rack being privately owned alongside the LCBO, but not allowing other private stores to carry alcohol. Then again, I am not convinced that private sales improve my ability to get decent beer. When I lived in Vancouver I barely went to the private stores as most of them carried poor quality beer at higher prices.