The Red Shop closes after 40 years of trade in Alexandra Hills

An iconic corner shop has closed its doors after 40 years serving hot chips and milkshakes to families in the Redlands, with generations of locals remembering stopping in for a bag of lollies or treat from the Red Shop.

The Red Shop at Alexandra Hills served its last customers on Sunday after more than 40 years. Picture: Paula Shearer

AN iconic corner shop has closed its doors after more than 40 years serving hot chips and ice-creams to kids in Alexandra Hills.

The Red Shop has had five families behind its counter on Finucane Road over the past four decades.

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Phuong Tran, 53, served his last customers on Sunday after leasing the shop for two years.

Yesterday, Mr Tran was packing up the last of the boxes at the store.

The Red Shop closing down at Alexandra Hills. Picture: Paula Shearer

He said the rising cost of electricity coupled with the supermarket giants’ extended trading hours had made it “very difficult” to trade.

“Even public holiday they (large supermarkets) still open. Very hard to do business with them,” Mr Tran said.

In the wake of the news, people took to social media to share their fond memories of the old corner store.

The Red Shop was a landmark in the area for four decades. Picture: Paula Shearer

“Remember when they had the space invader game area in the late 80s and 90s?” one wrote.

“Wow! It won’t be the same without the Red Shop, it has survived so many break-ins … it has been a landmark for so many years,” another wrote.

Elders Real Estate Springwood property manager Jane Davie was at the shop yesterday to collect the keys and said it was a “sad day”.

“Everyone knows where the Red Shop is,” she said.

Property manager Jane Davie has her own Red Shop memories. Picture: Danielle Buckley

“I used to bring my children here. My eldest daughter’s nearly 40 and when they were little we’d always stop in here to get an ice cream on the way to Wellington Point or on the way back.

“So that’s how iconic this place is.”

Ms Davie, who ran her own takeaway shop in Redland Bay for three years, said the “economic climate” had changed the game for small businesses.

“I think as pennies get tighter, everyone is struggling these days,” she said.

“When I was a child … we’d go down and buy lollies. I don’t think that’s even happening, that kids are being sent to the shop for a treat or an ice cream.”

The 802 sqm property, which includes a shop and residence, is up for lease.

If you are interested, contact Ms Davie on 0420 464 906.