10 7-Eleven stores in Winnipeg could close due to thefts, violence, councillors say
Flora and Salter store experienced more than $323,500 worth of thefts
Winnipeg's more than two-decade long run holding the title as the Slurpee Capital of the World could be in jeopardy after officials from 7-Eleven told city councillors nearly a quarter of the city's stores could close due to concerns about crime and employee safety.
Mynarski Coun. Ross Eadie and Point Douglas Coun. Vivian Santos sat down with officials from the company, including the CEO of 7-Eleven Canada, last Friday to discuss the problems.
"They asked Coun. Santos and I if we had any ideas how to resolve or stop this problem. And really what could I say?" Eadie told reporters.
According to a document shared with the councillors, 10 of the company's 45 locations in Winnipeg are at risk of closing.
The store locations are:
- 119 Salter St.
- 665 McPhillips St.
- 120 Keewatin St.
- 891 Arlington St.
- 1485 Inkster Blvd.
- 815 Ellice Ave.
- 456 Talbot Ave.
- 1184 Portage Ave.
- 1895 Wellington Ave.
- 909 Lorette Ave.
The total number of incidents, including thefts and robberies, reported at all of the North End locations in the first quarter of this year (987) is nearly equal to the total reported in all of last year (1,098).
The store at the corner of Salter and Flora has experienced more than $323,500 worth of thefts.
Mallory Amond and her daughter Nevaeh come to that 7-Eleven almost every day. They say theft is a regular occurrence.
"We were just in there and somebody was trying to steal and like, it happens every single day."
Amond says she and other customers have tried intervening to stop the thefts.
Losing the store would leave her and her daughter with fewer options to buy food.
"I get where 7-Eleven is coming from, of wanting to close their stores, but at the same time, they're taking away business from people ... that will actually want their services," she said.
Losing businesses
Harvey Veaumont has lived across the street from the Salter and Flora store for 17 years.
"I got a first hand view of what goes on, on a daily basis across the street," he said, adding he has seen people walking out with armloads of apparently stolen items.
"The biggest crime is going on from the younger kids, and the attitude everyone is taking, is can't touch them, can't do anything."
Eadie and Santos say they discussed options with the company, including increasing security measures around the doors, such as the secure access installed at the entrances to Manitoba Liquor Mart stores, and limiting access to a small number of customers at a time. They also suggested hiring security guards, but that comes with significant costs.
The councillors also suggested the stores reach out to local Business Improvement Zones, which have partnered with Winnipeg police on an anti-retail theft initiative earlier this summer.
Astrid Lichdi, administrator with the North End BIZ, said her members have been "crying out" for help.
"Our business improvement zone, maybe 12-15 years ago had 109 members. We have 57 now. That gives you an idea of the percentage of lost businesses that we have," she said in an interview.
Most businesses in the area already have locked-door policies, where customers need to knock to be let in. Due to the high number of fires, insurance costs have gone up, Lichdi said.
Lichdi, who owns Cosmopolitan Florists on Main Street, said her business has been in its location for 66 years.
"The last couple of years have been a sliding scale downward to just hanging on with knuckles as a business owner, and putting in a lot and a lot of personal money to keep things going. And most businesses are finding themselves in that predicament."
Santos says the loss of the stores would put food further out of reach of inner city residents.
"If these stores like such a major chain like 7-Eleven closes, you know, that's going to continue on with the food insecurity in our community," she said.
The company didn't give a timeline for when the stores might close, Eadie said. But he had a message for the people committing the thefts.
"People, you just gotta stop doing it. You have to have some respect. You won't be able to buy milk and bread for your kids or go and buy the things that you need because they're all going to shut down."
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