Garb-Ko Explains Columbus 7-Eleven Store Closings

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A lease renewal issue forced 7-Eleven Inc. licensee Garb-Ko Inc. to shut down its three convenience stores near The Ohio State University campus, according to a Columbus Business First report.

Garb-Ko spokesperson Larry Hauck told the news outlet that the stores were performing well, and it was not its idea to shutter its final three Columbus locations at 1574 Kenny Road, 352 W. Lane Ave. and 1551 N. High St. Instead, Benderson Development Co. of Florida would not renew the leases, he said.

"We weren't able to renegotiate the lease [with Benderson]," he told the news source. "Unfortunately, these things happen."

As CSNews Online reported last week, the three former c-stores are now gutted with the signage removed.

Benderson did not return messages placed by Columbus Business First seeking to determine why the leases were not renewed.

The next closest 7-Eleven location is an hour away in Mansfield, Ohio.

Saginaw, Mich.-based Garb-Ko still operates 7-Eleven stores in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. operates, franchises and licenses more than 8,500 stores in North America.