East Central 7-Eleven closes with big gulps, tears

A 7-Eleven that provided East Central neighbors with Big Gulps and doggie treats is closing after more than 30 years of operation.

On Friday, as a worker boarded windows at the Fifth Avenue and Thor Street convenience store, the Slurpee machine churned out a final batch of white cherry and cola drinks as a steady stream of regular customers stopped in to say goodbye.

Dan Cummings drove up with his small dogs, Sadie and Bounce, for a last kibble. Their tails started wagging when store employee Lila Bill approached.

“They see her coming up to the car and they know who it is (and) they know they’re going to get a good treat,” said Cummings, a 58-year old retired Kaiser Aluminum worker.

Ron Conlin, spokesman for Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc., said the store, which sits across the street from Fred Meyer, had good community support but wasn’t very profitable.

“We’re still going to have a presence in the Spokane area, but at that particular location we’re going to roll up the rug,” Conlin said.

Although the 7-Eleven was part of a corporation with about 25,000 stores worldwide, Cummings said its friendly employees and decent cup of coffee gave the store a “mom and pop” feel. Unlike superstores, he said, service was faster and there were never big lines.

7-Eleven will continue operating 11 stores in Spokane and North Idaho, said Kris Bill, a Spokane-based field supervisor who was at the store for its last day.

The company found other jobs for the stores’ employees, Bill said, including her mother-in-law, Lila Bill, who’s been with the company for 20 years.

Kris Bill said the store’s last day was filled with hugs and tears as employees bid loyal customers goodbye.

“This has just been a great place to do business. It’s a great little community.”