Gas station in Enterprise, N.W.T., population 100, up for sale
Lisa's Place one of 5 lots for sale via N.W.T. Supreme Court order
Enterprise, Northwest Territories, is officially without a gas station after local business, Lisa's Place was put up for sale.
This week the foreclosure of the property was announced in an ad in News/North, a territory-wide newspaper.
A total of five properties, recently operated as a gas station, convenience store, and motel, are now being offered for sale by order of the Northwest Territories Supreme Court.
The most recent owner, Lisa Thurber-Tsetso, was unavailable for comment.
However, in previous months she did share with CBC there were a number of reasons for closing the gas station.
These reasons ranged from the price of trucked water, to an increase in minimum wage, to no longer being able to sell fireworks or fishing licences.
'Everyone's just passing us by'
Lisa's Place provided essential services not only to people travelling along Highway 1, but also to the community of Enterprise.
Cathy Kimble, a long-term resident of Enterprise, says there's been a gas station in the Hamlet since at least the early 1960s.
She says people would usually stop for a visit and buy a souvenir.
"Without [Lisa's Place], everyone's just passing us by."
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She believes tourists and people travelling along the highway will be affected the most by the closure, but says it's an inconvenience for everybody.
"When you've always relied on these places it's pretty sad that when you walk out in the morning you gotta drive that far to get gas," said Kimble.
Even simple things like buying a loaf of bread or a dozen eggs now requires driving to Hay River, the closest community offering gas and grocery services.
Travellers must also take a detour as there is now a 240-kilometre stretch along Highway 1 without a gas station.
"We have so much traffic going by here all the time, and, and it's even sadder because we're the first community you see when you come into the Northwest Territories and there's no services," said Kimble.
Fortunately, Kimble says she's heard there are already a few potential buyers for the properties.
Offers will be considered by Yellowknife law firm Lawson Lundell until July 12, 2019.