For the past decade, Pouya and his family have been the faces behind the 7-Eleven service station in Sydney’s Sutherland, serving customers around the clock after investing more than $1 million to take over the franchise in 2015.

But at 6am on Wednesday, they’ll hand back the keys, claiming years of hard work have left them with nothing to show for it.

The family says they had hoped either to continue operating the store or sell the business at the end of their 10-year agreement.

Instead, they allege potential buyers they put forward were rejected before they received an email from 7-Eleven advising they would not receive compensation when their tenure came to an end.

“After 10 years we don’t have any business, we don’t have anything,” Pouya said. “We think, okay, we have spent 10 years for what?”

Tensions escalated when the family attempted to raise awareness of their situation by placing signs outside the store.

Footage allegedly captured 7-Eleven representatives removing the signs, while later that day the franchisees received a breach notice directing them to take the signage down by 2pm.

When they refused, further attempts were made to remove the displays.

In a statement, 7-Eleven said the franchise agreement for the Sutherland store, which had previously been extended, expires on June 17, 2026, and the licence granted to operate the store ceases on that date.

“We are not in a position to provide further comment,” the company said.

For Pouya, however, the focus remains on the community he says his family proudly served for the past decade.

“I want to say to all of the customers, it was my pleasure to serve you,” he said. “Hopefully you can have a wonderful life. Thank you so much.”