Police are investigating the armed robbery of a convenience store at Surry Hills overnight.

About 12.20am today (Monday 4 June), a 27-year-old employee at the shop on Chalmers Street was threatened by a man with a knife.

The employee armed himself with a milk crate and struggled with the offender.

A second man then approached and the employee was forced to hand over cash.

The two offenders ran from the scene.

The employee suffered three minor wound to his hand.

Police from Surry Hills Local Area Command established a crime scene and searched the area for the two offenders without success.

Investigators spoke with a taxi driver who said he dropped the two men at Redfern.

One of the men is described being of sub-continental appearance, about 30 years old, medium build, 175cm tall with a beard. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, a dark coloured cap, grey scarf and black gloves.

The second man had dark skin, skinny build, about 30 years of age and was wearing a black jumper over a bright coloured t-shirt and a dark hat.