HAMPTON -- The Colt News closing is among numerous changes taking place in downtown Hampton.

The 7-Eleven on High Street is boarded up because the store was no longer profitable, according to Cynthia Baker, a spokeswoman at the company's corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

"It was a low volume store," she said.

The site was leased.

No plans have come before the Hampton Planning Board for the location, according to Hampton Town Planner James Steffen.

On Route 1 at Winnacunnet Road, the Shell service station owned by Ralph Scamman is expected to close.

Shell wants to sell it, said Scamman who has leased the business for 33 years. Shell is having a hard time competing against other stations that sell gas more cheaply, he said.

"They're always higher than everyone else," said Scamman. "Everyone's buying at Hess."

Another business wants the site for something other than a gas station, Scamman said. Shell corporate headquarters isn't telling him what that is.

"They wanted me out by Dec. 1," he said, but he's heard nothing lately.

The Hampton planning office has received no plans for the Shell site, said Steffen.

Scamman thinks whoever wants the Shell site also wants the property next door, Hampton Cityland Farms convenience store.

The manager of Cityland could not be reached for comment.

The Shell closing would lay off Scamman, three full-time employees and two part-time workers.

At 71, Scamman is ready to retire, he said. His mechanic, Don Moore, will open his own service station, Depot Square Auto, in Depot Square, said Scamman.