Residents living on a large housing estate near Warwick are being asked to spend £3 a week to save their local shop.
Safi Parvez, who runs Hatton Park Stores, has given people just three weeks to start using the business before he closes it for good.
Mr Parvez took over the Crimscote Square premises six months ago but says he cannot afford to keep it open if res
idents do not start shopping there.
He said: "There are 900 households in Hatton Park.
"All I need is for someone from every one of those houses to spend just £3 a week.
"Just buying their Sunday paper and a few pints of milk can ensure the shop will remain open.
"As it is, I just can't afford to keep it running - it doesn't pay."
The businessman hoped last week's bad weather would encourage more residents to shop locally, but his takings dropped below £200 a day with just 50 customers going in.
The store has been open for six years but Mr Parvez is planning to close it next month if the situation does not improve.
He added: "It's not that we need people to do their weekly shop here – just to buy a few essentials. But sadly if things don't improve fast we will simply have to close.
"It's only when we close that the people who live here will realise what an important service the shop provides."
Helen Salisbury lives opposite the store in Barcheston Mews and regularly goes there to buy milk and newspapers.
She said: "If we lose the shop we really will be cut off and it's not environmentally friendly to drive three miles into town just for some milk.
"It is just so handy to have it there and it has a real community feel. I think residents will notice a difference to the feel of Hatton Park if the shop is lost."
Chairman of the area's residents association Sue Hague said: "Safi is so friendly and always willing to stock whatever people would like.
"It's our community and I think we should all do our bit to make sure we can keep running for our neighbours."
