A 7-Eleven location in downtown Toronto is shutting its doors for good after nearly three decades. The convenience store at 260 College St. will permanently close on June 30, according to signage on the shop’s window. The sign notes the two closest locations that customers can head to for their 7-Eleven fix: one on Bay St., north of Wellesley St. W., and the other on Dundas St. W. at Manning Ave., west of Bathurst St.
Employee uncertainty and community reaction
A Toronto resident shared the news via a video on Instagram, alleging that the store’s employees don’t know what will happen to them after next week. “The employees here haven’t been given any information as to their workers’ rights or where they will be transferred or if they’re going to get laid off,” the man said in his caption. “They said they don’t know. Very sad for these guys. They work really hard and put up with a lot of s— working there.”
The store, at the northeast corner of College and Spadina Ave., shares space with a Tim Hortons, Smoke’s Poutinerie and Jerk King, while across the street are fast-food spots including Burger King and Taco Bell. The store, which is open 24 hours, makes it especially convenient for those who’ve just had a night out at nearby El Mocambo, Dina’s Tavern (formerly Silver Dollar) and the Chinatown and Kensington Market neighbourhoods.
End of an era for a beloved spot
“What would this place be like without f—ing 7-Eleven here?,” the man says in his video. “That’s crazy s—.” He confirmed the closure with one employee, while he and his co-worker remained smiling throughout the encounter. Commenters weighed in with their thoughts on the abrupt closing. “This place is too iconic and impactful to so many people’s lives,” one person wrote. Another added: “This 711 saved my life almost every weekend after cz,” referring to underground after-hours club Comfort Zone, which shut down in 2017. A third user called the news “sad” and noted the “many good memories” at the store. “Old Toronto is truly dying,” they added. One frustrated commenter predicted: “More condos nobody can afford in Canada probably moving in.”
Hundreds of closures expected across North America
7-Eleven announced earlier this year that it would be closing 645 stores across North America and replacing them with 205 new, larger, food-focused locations in an attempt to “cut costs and improve margins for a delayed IPO,” according to Forbes in an April report. The company said in a statement to the Toronto Sun that the College location is closing “as the brand evaluates new real estate opportunities in the Toronto market.” “Store optimization is a part of every retail brand business and growth strategy,” the statement said. “We continuously review and optimize our store portfolio to ensure that we are delivering convenience that aligns with customer demand.”
There are more than 540 7-Eleven stores across Canada, but in May, the location at Jane St. and Wilson Ave. in North York shut down as well as a store in Etobicoke at 24th St. and Lake Shore Blvd. W.
