Goornong general store owners make tough call to shut up shop

A lack of local business has been the driving factor with owner Sue East-Nicholas believing the large franchise chains in Epsom are drawing Goornong residents' business.

"We're not here for your weekly shop, we're a convenience store," she said. "So if you're making something like pasta carbonara and have forgotten cream, you can pop in here.

"But people are driving to Huntly or Epsom for that and it's very frustrating because that's the kind of thing we're here for.

"Sometimes we're perceived as more expensive and we are. It's a convenience. It saves you an hour of travel. You come here and spend 50 cents more because we have done the travel for you."

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Ms East-Nicholas said because of the range of food, drinks and other items, like hardware, on offer, the store's power bill was phenomenal.

"Most businesses have a big power bill. We have freezers and fridges going and heating appliances operating, that's a lot on a powerbill," she said.

"There are days we are not even (covering the power), we can't keep going like that."

The couple bought the business seven years ago. They are the sixth owners in the store's 119 year history.

"In the beginning we weren't making a lot but it was enough to keep us going," Ms East-Nicholas said.

"Bob who was here before us was 72 and had lost his wife. He was going to shut the shop, he just couldn't keep going. But we bought it just before he closed."

Goornong resident Carly Threlfall said she was upset when she heard the news.

"I wasn't very happy because these guys mean a lot to me," she said. "Since I moved out here three years ago, (Sue and Phil) have always been there. I don't know what I would have done without Sue, she's like another mum to me.

"A lot of factors have gone into this (decision) but what more can we do."

In an ideal world, Ms Threllfall would like to see the shop remain open thanks to community support.

"Goornong is growing but losing its store," she said. "Community is not just a word, it's how you behave and put in. If everyone came in here once a week, the story would probably be different."

Ms East-Nicholas said there would have to be a significant, sustained change to the store's business for the doors to stay open.

"We would like to see more locals. I think about 70 per cent of the town don't come in," she said.

"We could pour money in to the store but we would need a huge influx of locals because the travellers are also pulling back. They stop at Ravenswood's (big petrol station)."

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