One of the most recognizable industrial properties in Windsor-Essex has officially hit the market.

Diageo has listed its Crown Royal bottling plant in Amherstburg for sale ahead of a planned shutdown in early 2026. The facility has been bottling Crown Royal whisky since 1971, making this the end of more than five decades of operations in the border community.

From a real estate and economic development perspective, this is a significant moment for Amherstburg and the broader Windsor-Essex region.

A Rare Industrial Asset Comes to Market

The property is located at 110 St. Arnaud Street near Sandwich Street South and Alma Street. According to the listing, the site spans roughly 25 hectares, or just over 70 acres, and includes eight industrial buildings totaling nearly 447,000 square feet.

Key features include direct rail access, secured yard space, trailer parking, and clear heights ranging from 20 to 26 feet. Annual property taxes are listed at just over $310,000.

Simply put, this is not a typical industrial listing. Assets of this size and scale rarely come available locally, especially ones with this level of infrastructure already in place.

Why Diageo Is Shutting Down the Plant

Diageo announced earlier this year that it would close the Amherstburg bottling facility as part of a broader effort to streamline its North American supply chain. The company has said some bottling operations will move closer to U.S. customers, with bottling shifting to its Valleyfield, Quebec facility.

Importantly, Crown Royal whisky will continue to be mashed, distilled, and aged in Canada. The change is operational, not a full departure from Canadian production.

The plant is expected to close by February 2026.

Impact on Local Jobs and the Community

Roughly 160 unionized workers are affected by the closure. Members of Unifor Local 200 recently ratified a closure agreement that includes enhanced entitlements to help employees through the transition. Workers can either leave early or remain until the facility officially closes.

Any industrial closure of this size has ripple effects. Beyond direct employment, there are downstream impacts on transportation, maintenance, and supporting services tied to the facility.

What Could Come Next for the Site

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue has indicated the town is already focused on what comes next. According to the mayor, there is interest from potential buyers, reportedly within the alcohol industry, although no specific details have been made public.

The municipality has been working with the province to facilitate discussions around a future use for the property. Ultimately, however, Diageo owns the site and will control the sale process.

From a land use standpoint, this property represents a major opportunity. Whether it remains in industrial production, is repurposed for logistics or advanced manufacturing, or transitions to another employment use will have long term implications for Amherstburg’s tax base and job market.

Why This Matters Beyond Amherstburg

This listing comes at a time when industrial land across Windsor Essex remains in relatively tight supply, especially for large scale users. A fully serviced, rail connected site of this size immediately draws regional, national, and even cross border attention.

This is not just a story about a plant closing. It is a story about how legacy industrial assets transition in a changing economy, and whether communities can successfully attract new users to replace lost jobs.

What happens here will be watched closely across Windsor-Essex.

Final Thoughts

Moments like this sit at the intersection of real estate, economic development, and community identity. The Crown Royal plant has been part of Amherstburg for generations. Its next chapter will matter.

If you live in Amherstburg, work in industrial real estate, manufacturing, or economic development, or simply care about what gets built in Windsor-Essex, this is a story worth following.

If you found this breakdown helpful, please share this article with someone who should be paying attention. These local decisions have long term impacts, and the more informed the conversation, the better the outcome for our communities.