Come Saturday owner Ronni Steed will hang the 'closed' sign and move on.

"I've been here for nine years, but I want to do something different now.

"At my age of 56 I don't want the stress of running my own business any more, I want to slow down."

But Mrs Steed said she had been able to meet all sorts of different people during her time running the shop including overseas visitors.

She said she never had a problem with theft or vandalism and felt it was a shame to see the long-time business name disappear.

Mrs Steed has tried to sell the business but had only received responses from capital city interests, who when they heard the business was in Lightning Ridge had changed their mind.

"I think they were scared because we're out in the sticks, and they were afraid to face the challenge."

The Ridge Footwear was a unique business, not only selling shoes but also haberdashery items, internet connection CDs, building timber and supplied a dry-cleaning service for the town.

Although at least half a dozen businesses have closed down in the past six months, Mrs Steed doesn't think the town is dying.

Meanwhile, Bogas, formerly an Ampol station, had its big opening day last Thursday.

Manager Ria Walker said the new Bogas station not only provided fuel but also had more stock and a convenience store type set up.

Bogas is also keeping its doors open until 10pm each night, three hours longer then the former Ampol station did.

"We cook burgers until 10 o'clock and have brought in groceries, so people who miss the supermarkets will still be able to buy what they want from us."

The refurbishments took about two months, which saw the transformation of the 20 year-old Ampol site to the Bogas station.

Ms Walker said the new image presented the service station in a much cleaner fashion and gave a more organised look.

"Since the change we feel business has picked up significantly.

"I think it's because we have an extended range of stock on our shelves, have extended our trading hours and delivered a new look," she said.

The big opening day saw heaps of giveaways, with the support of Opal FM broadcasting live at the scene.

"We've had a constant flow (during the opening day), I reckon at least 1000 people have passed through," she said.