7-Eleven Heathmont: Community fighting to save Campbell St store from closure

The Heathmont community’s quest to save its 7-Eleven store has produced a small win, but its future remains in doubt. Here’s the latest.

Heathmont's 7-Eleven store is set to close on June 30. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Heathmont’s much loved 7-Eleven store won’t be closing down next week, but the fight to secure its long term future is still far from over.

The corporate heavyweight has given franchisees Yong Li and Zhe Wang a one-month extension as it continues negotiations with the couple.

The Campbell St store, which doesn’t offer petrol and has operated for almost 40 years, now has a revised closing date of July 28.

Leader revealed the couple’s fight to stay open on Wednesday after 7-Eleven allegedly deemed the store not profitable and wanted to close it on June 30.

Ms Li and Mr Wang have managed the store since 2015 and have four years remaining on their 10-year agreement with 7-Eleven.

The duo claim 7-Eleven verbally told them they would close the store on April 8, with written notice on April 28.

Lawyers representing Ms Li and Mr Wang have told Leader they believe 7-Eleven did not give adequate notice, and they were considering a Supreme Court of Victoria injunction.

Heathmont's 7-Eleven on Canterbury Rd has been operating for more than 30 years. Picture: Kiel Egging.

The landowner, who declined to be named, has also told Leader they support the couple and the store remaining at the site, which has been put up for lease by Ray White Heathmont after 7-Eleven allegedly gave notice to vacate three months ago.

Mr Wang suffered a heart attack in April following 7-Eleven’s decision.

Ms Li said she and her partner worked long hours to keep the store going and support their young family.

“It’s been very hard work for the last six years, we never sleep,” she said.

“It’s still very hard because of the Covid situation, and if we lose this business, it will be very hard for us to get another business and to get income to support our family.

“All the customers have been sympathetic to us and they want this store to stay open.”

An online petition to save the Heathmont store, started by regular customer Caroline Davies, had more than 1800 signatures as of noon on June 25.

Heathmont local Rebecca, who didn’t give her surname, said the couple were well-liked within the community and had supported those in need.

Heathmont's Rebecca is one of the 7-Eleven store's many loyal customers. Picture: Kiel Egging.

“The owners are so nice and helpful, it’s really sad,” she said.

“I love the fact they embrace the community... I’m a number one Slurpee freak,”

“We’re a very family oriented community and we don’t want another massage parlour here.”

Ray White Heathmont managing agent Brett Diston said the site was a “rare offering” and he had received interest from national brands and local retailers.

A 7-Eleven spokesman said it was “an unfortunate fact of life that some stores don’t perform as well as we or a franchisee would like”.

The spokesman said the company was in discussions with the franchisee and it was inappropriate to comment further.