After operating his coffee van in a Woolies car park for 11 years, Colin McLeod is nervous about the future of his business.
Woolworths Dunlop, the only store at Dunlop Shops besides Mr McLeod's van The Coffee Scroll, will be closed permanently on Tuesday, September 29, following the expiry of its lease.
"I always say Dunlop is the suburb that Canberra forgot about," Mr McLeod said. "Now we might be stuck without a supermarket."
For Mr McLeod, the Woolworths and accompanying BWS at the shops have created a hub for the otherwise empty Dunlop town centre, as well as generating foot traffic for his business.
"It's just the best community here. Everyone's friendly, everyone wants to know your name."
Mr McLeod runs the van five days a week as its only staff member. He knows his customers' names and coffee orders by heart.
"It's like Sesame Street, and The Coffee Scroll is Mr Hooper's store."
Woolworths announced the closure of the Dunlop store in February, citing declining foot traffic and noting the two larger Woolworths locations in the neighbouring suburbs of Charnwood and Kippax.
Both within 5 kilometres of Dunlop shops, Woolworths Kippax is accessible from Dunlop by a direct bus and Charnwood is accessible by two connecting buses.
Many members of the community protested on social media that Woolworths Dunlop is far more accessible for people with disabilities and elderly people than its neighbouring stores.
"You don't get the same experience at any other Woolies," Mr McLeod said.
"This one is small, it's accessible ... the staff know your name, and they help the elderly carry their bags to their cars."
In February, Labor member for Ginninderra Yvette Berry announced a petition to "Save Dunlop Shop", intended to indicate to other potential retailers that there is sufficient local demand for a supermarket. As of Wednesday, September 16, it received 1,979 signatures.
One retailer accepted Ms Berry's open invitation to tour the area on Saturday, September 12, but did not move forward with leasing the store.
"Unfortunately, I do not have the details as to why interested parties didn't move forward," Ms Berry said.
According to Mr McLeod, the community feels that the "ideal scenario" would include an IGA or a Supabarn taking up the lease.
Without the foot traffic and added security of a supermarket, the future of The Coffee Scroll is uncertain.
Mr McLeod has a relationship with Woolworths Dunlop which allows him to access security footage of the car park.
"Without the Woolies security cameras, there's nothing keeping the building safe," he said.
"People are worried about vandalism [on the vacant store] - I'm worried about the van getting hit."
All hope isn't lost for the coffee van, however.
Many visitors to Dunlop shops come just for the coffee and a chat. Mr McLeod's busiest time is between 6.30am and 7am, before Woolworths opens.
Like many other regulars, resident Peter Faulkner shops at Woolworths Charnwood but drives to Dunlop for his coffee.
"I wouldn't come if Colin wasn't here," Mr Faulkner said.
For now, The Coffee Scroll will stay in the Dunlop car park as the sole Dunlop shop.
"We'll see how it goes," Mr McLeod said.
"Either business plummets and I have to go off somewhere else, or it's steady and I'll be able to stick around."
Mr McLeod has reached out to Ms Berry and Liberal member for Ginninderra Chiaka Barry to sponsor a new petition to move the van onto the grassy park next door to the shops.
"Hopefully we can get permission for something more permanent and pave the way for other small businesses to set up in Dunlop, so business isn't dictated by whether someone's in the old Woolies building or not.
"That way Dunlop's not left completely empty, and the community can still have a meeting place."
