n. — Newfoundland, Administration, Food & Drink
a liquor store.
Type: 2. Preservation — The term bond store is described as a 'warehouse or cellar where spirituous liquor is stored' (see DNE, s.v. "bond store"). As noted by the DNE, it likely derives from the British English term "bonded store", defined as 'a store or warehouse in charge of Custom-house officials, in which goods may be kept in bond' (see OED-3, s.v. "bonded" (2)). An origin of British English coincides with Newfoundland's settlement history, as the province was settled by many people from southwest counties of England in the 18th and 19th centuries (Clarke 2010b: 7). As explained in the 1915 quotation, leftover goods from ships would eventually be removed by Customs and taken to bond stores; after a certain period of time, these goods were available for purchase at the "government bond store" (see the 1991 quotation). Among the items popularly sold at bond stores would arguably be liquor (see, for example, the 1924 quotation). Thus, the use of bond store as a synonym for "liquor store" can be seen as a type of semantic generalization (see the 1960 quotation).
See also COD-2, s.v. "bond store", which is marked "Cdn (Nfld)" and DNE, s.v. "bond store".