Ayre's also began to open supermarkets in the 1960s, under the name Ayre's Supermarkets. The chain was sold to Dominion Stores Ltd. in 1963, with six locations in the St. John's area, as well as supermarkets in Carbonear and Corner Brook. As a result, Ayre's Supermarkets later adopted the Dominion brand. Following the sale of Dominion to A&P Canada, the Dominion stores in Newfoundland and Labrador were resold to local owners in 1987 and subsequently merged with two smaller local chains. The newly amalgamated parent company was named Amalco Foods, but the combined chain's brand name remained "Dominion". The amalgamated chain was acquired by Loblaw Companies Limited in 1995.
Locations
St. John's
*Water Street - The original flagship store of Ayre and Sons, opened in 1859.
*Avalon Mall - Ayre's Department Store. Opened 1967. Converted to expansion of mall interior following a major renovation program in 1993, with Scotiabank and across from that Gap among its tenants. The space that occupied that then renovated in early 2018 once more to become Charm Diamond Centres, Claire's, The Source and Jump Plus with Scotiabank remaining.
*Churchill Square - Ayre's Supermarket. Became a Dominion store until 2007, where Loblaw rebranded the store a SaveEasy.
*Summerville - Ayre's Supermarket. Located in a mini-mall on Elizabeth Avenue at Paton Street. The Dominion store was closed in 1994, and the plaza was demolished in 1998 to make way for a condominium complex.
*Parade Street - Ayre's Supermarket - became a Dominion store until December 21, 1992, when it was destroyed by a major fire, which also claimed several other buildings and businesses. The St. John's Central Fire Station now stands on the site.
*Hamilton Avenue - Ayre's Supermarket - became a Dominion store until 1995 - now closed
*Torbay Road Mall - Ayre's Supermarket - became a Dominion store until 1993, at which point it moved to a then-larger store on Newfoundland Drive - was IGA from 1996 to 1999 - now Shoppers Drug Mart
Mount Pearl - Centennial Square - Ayre's Supermarket. The store later became a Dominion store until 1993, at which time it was closed and relocated to the Pearlgate Mall, being branded a "Dominion Marketplace" until it was taken over by Loblaw. In 1997, Coleman's Supermarket opened in the former store; this is their first location in the St. John's area.
Carbonear
Corner Brook - Corner Brook Plaza - Ayre's Supermarket - became a Dominion store until 2002, when it moved to a larger store at the "big box" development at Murphy Square.
