Some residents are wondering what happened to a long-standing 7-Eleven in Saanich after the location suddenly appeared boarded up with little explanation.
The convenience store at the busy Carey Road and Tillicum Road intersection has quietly shut down, with signage removed and windows covered, catching many regulars off guard.
On social media, locals say they didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary until recently.
“I drive by it almost every day, but this morning it was all boarded up,” one person wrote online. “I don’t even remember noticing anything different until today.”
While there has been no official confirmation tied specifically to this Saanich location, the closure comes amid broader changes from 7-Eleven and its parent company Seven & i Holdings.
Earlier this year, the company indicated it planned to close hundreds of stores across Canada and the United States. Some of those closures are tied to a shift toward wholesale fuel locations, which have been expanding across North America in recent years.
At the same time, the brand has said it plans to focus more on larger, food-forward stores in an effort to improve margins.
It’s not yet clear whether the Carey and Tillicum location was impacted by those broader corporate decisions or if local factors played a role.
Some community members have speculated the store may not have been profitable enough to remain open, though that has not been confirmed.
Others believe redevelopment could be a factor. Nearby commercial spaces have sat vacant, and residents have noted that apartments above the plaza were recently cleared out, raising questions about the future of the site.
Regardless of the reason, the closure has struck a nostalgic chord for many.
“This is sad to hear. Too many good memories buying slushies and snacks from this store as a kid,” one person shared.
Another recalled buying their first stack of Pokémon cards there using rolled coins.
7/11 at Carey / Tillicum is trying to quietly close.
byu/KonbiniKanuck inVictoriaBC
For now, the sudden closure leaves a noticeable gap at one of the area’s busiest corners, with no word yet on what could replace it.
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