Former downtown 7-Eleven lot a nexus of uncertainty

“That may include things like construction fencing, it may include things like private security, it may include fencing the site, it may include the RCMP. We don’t really know yet.”

ASK Wellness operates The Crossroads across the street and it is also keeping a close eye on the property. Executive Officer Bob Hughes said he believes it’ll remain a “precarious time in the neighbourhood” until the site is secured.

“There’s basically no regulating access to that property,” Hughes said. “I’m very disappointed, obviously, that a business is closing and leaving a vacant lot in a very vibrant neighbourhood. I’m sure the neighbourhood is even more concerned around their sense of safety when we’ve got a site now that is basically boarded up.”

While The Crossroads property used to also serve as a gathering spot for people, it underwent a lengthy restoration and reopened earlier this year.

“People assumed the crowds at the former 7-Eleven were all because of The Crossroads, but we were gone for 15 months and things got even worse,” Hughes added. “That property was so prone to having people congregate and I think simply just leaving it abandoned and expecting good outcomes is unrealistic.”

The former 7-Eleven store on Seymour Street in downtown Kamloops pictured on May 27, 2026. (Image Credit: Victor Kaisar/CFJC Today)

The City of Kamloops will not be proactively patrolling the vacant site as it is private property. However, it noted the property could be deemed a nuisance property if issues continue to get out of hand.

“We can’t afford for it to go into sort of a dark space where it becomes a permanent encampment because that has ripple effects through the entire area,” Heighton said.

“We, as a neighbour, along with area residents and other businesses are asking, ‘What’s next?'” Hughes added. “I think the hope is the property gets fenced and hopefully somebody is going to purchase it and create housing or a commercial property, but as it sits now, it’s a real eyesore for our community.”

The property at Sixth Avenue and Seymour Street had been listed for sale for over a year with an asking price of $2.93 million. It noted the 16,746 square foot property had a total net yearly income of $85,050 and a lease renewal option until June 30, 2034.

“The immediate area has good market appeal and the subject is well located for commercial and residential use due to its proximity to major transportation corridors, including Seymour Street, Columbia Street, Highway 1, and Highway 5 and surrounding markets,” a brochure from Coquitlam-based Laliberte & Di Tosto Real Estate Group said.

“Subject property is well-located in a well-established commercial and residential area of Kamloops and within close proximity to major arterials in the area providing good appeal for a variety of commercial and residential uses. No adverse location influences detrimental to the property’s market potential or use potential are noted.”

Sources to CFJC Today confirmed the property listing expired earlier this month, but it is unclear if there have been any serious bids that have come forward. In the meantime, what could happen at that site is anyone’s guess.

“I think we have to be more open to the ‘what it can be’ rather that ‘what it is’ and I think that is a really great opportunity for that area,” Heighton said. “If you look at the Tranquille corridor, you’ll see we’re doing combination builds – commercial mains, commercial seconds, possibly, and then four-to-six storeys of residential on top.”

“Is there an opportunity to look at that Seymour corridor and start to look at that as a new model moving forward? Maybe, in which case that becomes a very valuable piece of property.”

by Victor Kaisar

Former downtown 7-Eleven lot a nexus of uncertainty

Our Community