The Blind Bight General Store has been forced to close its doors.
THE sudden closure of the Blind Bight General Store has shocked residents of the small coastal village.
Ill health and financial difficulties left manager Paula Ayres with no choice but to shut up shop, much to the dismay of locals.
The general store had serviced the quiet seaside town for more than a decade, offering basic food supplies, newspapers and an Australia Post outlet.
Ms Ayres, who has managed the shop since March, said she “hung on” for as long as she could and was disappointed to be closing.
“I just want to say goodbye and thank you for the support the local community has shown my daughter and I,” she said. “I did the best I could and had a great rapport with customers but I just couldn’t continue.
“I am sure the store will open again soon and hope the new owners can give it the facelift it needs.”
The news has saddened many residents, who say they will have to travel to the neighbouring towns of Warneet or Tooradin for their milk and morning paper.
Resident Robin Dzedins said she learnt of the closure after Australia Post informed her she would have to redirect her mail. She said she was given the choice of having her mail sent to her private address, to an Australia Post box in Cranbourne or a temporary collection point at the Blind Bight Community Centre.
“This is sad for the community,” Ms Dzedins said. “We can no longer receive our newspaper subscription and our mail will have to be redirected elsewhere.
“Hopefully the store will be up and running again because it’s been open for years and has never closed.”
An Australia Post spokeperson said it notified residents with a post office box at the store of the change and was making alternative plans for mail deliveries.
The Blind Bight General Store will remain open for mail collection from 8am to 1pm until this Friday.
