Why not 7-11?
Living in Singapore, you're very likely familiar with 7-Eleven, the most prolific convenience store franchise on this island. But why is 7-Eleven called "7-Eleven"? To the surprise of some, 7-Eleven hails from the United States — not Southeast Asia, or even Asia.
To answer that, we have to go back to 1946, when Southland Corporation, an ice company based in Texas, renamed its chain of convenience stores "7-Eleven", after it was first founded in 1927. The new name reflected the chain's long operating hours (7am to 11pm), which was an attractive marketing point at that time. Over time, the chain started expanding its range of offerings, becoming a one-stop convenience store, which was a hit. Its success ran in tandem with America's suburban development. By the 1950s, 7-Eleven stores could be found in Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
The 24/7 operating model only started in the 1960s after a 7-Eleven outlet in Austin, Texas started extending its operating hours to cater to students. Other aspects of 7-Eleven — its iconic Slurpee and Big Gulp drinks — also originated in America. Southland launched partially frozen drinks called "Icees" (the predecessor of Slurpees) in 1965. The Big Gulp was introduced in 1976. As its name suggests, it was very big. Coming in at 32 ounces (950ml), it was the largest serving of soft drink available at that time.
I Just Learned Why 7-Eleven Is Called That—and It Blew My Mind
According to Britannica, today's 7-Eleven company traces its roots back to 1927 as the Dallas-based Southland Ice Company. It sold ice blocks to households for food preservation purposes at a time when electricity and refrigerators weren't commonplace. The stores started to add food items for purchase and added Native American Totem Poles to storefronts to attract customers and changed its name to Tote'm Stores to match.
After falling into bankruptcy during the Great Depression and the repeal of Prohibition, the store came back with a focus on food and drink. By 1946, the store began offering extended hours: 7 days per week, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and to advertise the change the company name changed one more time to: 7-Eleven.
So, the hours it's open may be why the store got the name 7-Eleven in the first place, but that doesn't always hold true anymore. Seth Rogen's coworker in "Platonic" did have it right: many 7-Eleven locations are now open 24/7.
Why is 7-Eleven Called 7-Eleven? An Expert Analysis
7-Eleven was founded in 1927 under the name "Tote‘m Stores" in Dallas, Texas. In 1946, the name was changed to "7-Eleven" to reflect the store‘s operating hours of 7AM to 11PM.
This was an unusually long span of hours for the era. Most stores closed by 5 or 6PM and weren’t open on Sundays. 7-Eleven stood out with 12+ hours of operations daily. As an analyst, I believe the new name was a strategic move to promote 7-Eleven‘s convenience and capture market share from competitors with limited hours. It was also catchy and memorable. Why Not Change the Name? Today most convenience and grocery stores are open 24/7. So why does 7-Eleven still retain a name reflecting outdated store hours?
There are likely a few key reasons:
- Brand recognition: 7-Eleven is now a globally recognized brand name. Changing it could cause loss of brand equity.
- Origin story: The origins of the name 7-Eleven based on convenience and long store hours is part of the company narrative.
- Grandfathered in: As one of the first convenience store chains, 7-Eleven is in some ways "grandfathered" into keeping its traditional name.
The Story Behind 7-Eleven: Why the Iconic Convenience Store Chain Got Its Name
7-Eleven is a name that has become synonymous with convenience, accessibility, and reliability in the retail industry. With over 71,100 stores across 17 countries, it is the largest convenience store chain in the world. But have you ever wondered why it‘s called "7-Eleven"? The answer lies in the company‘s fascinating history and its original commitment to providing extended operating hours for its customers.
The story of 7-Eleven began in 1927 when Joe C. Thompson, an employee of the Southland Ice Company in Dallas, Texas, started selling bread, milk, and eggs from an improvised storefront at one of the company‘s ice docks. The small store, which was open from 7 AM to 11 PM, quickly gained popularity among local residents who appreciated the convenience of being able to purchase these essentials outside of regular grocery store hours.
Seeing the potential in this business model, Thompson eventually convinced the Southland Ice Company to open more convenience stores, and by 1946, the chain had grown to 100 locations across Texas. It was during this time that the company officially adopted the name "7-Eleven" to emphasize its extended operating hours, which set it apart from other retailers at the time.
7-Eleven Company’s History: How It Became a Global Giant?
“Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.” 7-Eleven company’s history from a small neighborhood store to a global retail giant extraordinarily proves this quote. Interestingly, what started as a humble ice house in 1927 has today grown into the world’s largest convenience store chain, ‘the great 7-Eleven!’ That’s impressive! Isn’t it?
Known for its iconic Slurpees, 24/7 service, and customer convenience at every corner, 7-Eleven’s journey is packed with innovation, ambition, and a persistent chase for success. However, in this blog, you will learn everything interesting about the 7-Eleven company’s history behind its incredible success today. So, are you excited? Let’s quickly get started!
7-Eleven started in 1927 in Dallas, Texas. It was originally an ice house storefront, selling ice blocks to help people keep their food cold. This was before refrigerators were common in homes. The store quickly became popular for its convenience. However, the first name of the store was ‘Tote’m Stores.’ The name came from the idea that customers could ‘tote’ or carry their goods away. The stores even had totem poles outside as a fun decoration. This name reflected the store’s focus on convenience.
Why Is 711 Called 7-eleven? (All You Need To Know)
711 has many stories behind its name. They started out as a deli, they have had lots of changes, but the people behind the store have been there for all of them.
Not sure I can give an explanation for the name, but it seems I have to. The name 711 is named after a seven storey building on the corner of 7th and 11th Streets in New York City.
Why is 711 Called 7-Eleven In 2022? 711 is owned by the 7-Eleven and runs through a large network of 711 stores. This means that in order to keep a large amount of people happy, 711 will be able to have a wider variety of services, from fast and easy services, to customer service, to food. Because of the large network, the convenience of 711 will be even greater for those who live far away from the closest store.
How 7-Eleven Got Its Name And Why It’s Open 24 Hours
When you walk into a 7-Eleven at 2 a.m. and grab some munchies, you’ll often start wondering why the convenience store is named after after two arbitrary numbers.
While we’re used to the store being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there was a time when the store was only open, as you might guess, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. A quick look at the 7-Eleven history shows the store’s been around since 1946, when the Tote’m store changed its name in honor of its operating hours. It wasn’t until 1963 that the store started keeping its doors forever open, kind of by accident.
It started at a 7-Eleven location near the University of Texas that got so busy after a football game, the store was forced to stay open past its 11 p.m. closing time. After seeing how well their sales did that night, the Texas store decided to keep itself open 24/7, permanently.
Why Is 7-Eleven Open 24 Hours If It’s Called “7-Eleven”?
7-Eleven began as, of all things, an ice house, in the early 20th century before refrigeration was widespread. Several ice companies merged to form Southland Ice Company, based in Dallas, Texas. In 1927, they began selling food and other staples. They actually went bankrupt due to the Great Depression, but then came back better than ever. With the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, food and drink establishments could now make dough selling alcohol, and Southland Ice locations were no exception.
Sure enough, they gained prominence. Decorating their storefronts with totem poles, they became known as “Tote’m Stores,” invoking the way customers would “tote” their purchases out of the store. This was long before they introduced the beloved Slurpee; it made its debut in 1965! By the way, here’s what you need to know about Free Slurpee Day at 7-Eleven.
It was 1946 when they changed their name to reflect their new, expanded hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. And the new “7-Eleven” name was “honest,” so to speak, for 17 years! The store expanded greatly in the coming years, beyond Texas and throughout the United States. But it was a Texas location—Austin, to be exact—that pioneered the 24-hour change. In 1963, a single Austin location spurred the shift by remaining open all night to accommodate nearby college students. It was a roaring success, so other locations began to do the same. The name remained, though, paying tribute to the early days of the brand. Next, learn how 10 more of your favorite stores got their names.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is a retailer that traces its origin to 1927 and operates more than 60,000 convenience stores, mostly in North America and Asia. A typical 7-Eleven retail store is small, carries a limited stock of food, drinks, and other high-turnover products, and stays open for long hours. 7-Eleven is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
7-Eleven became a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Seven & I Holdings in November 2005. Seven & I Holdings is a diversified retailer formed by Ito-Yokado in 2005 a few months before the purchase of 7-Eleven and traded on the over-the-counter market under the symbol SVNDY.
To operate a 7-Eleven convenience store, business owners pay a one-time franchise fee and make a down payment on store inventory. The company provides ample support for franchisees selected to become part of the program.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven, Inc. is an American convenience store chain, headquartered in Irving, Texas. The chain was founded in 1927 as the Southland Ice Company, operating an ice house storefront in Dallas. Then-owned by Southland Corporation, the number of convenience stores expanded and were named Tote'm Stores between 1928 and 1946.
Southland Corporation changed the stores' name to 7-Eleven in 1946, reflecting expanded hours of operation (7 am to 11 pm). Southland Corporation started franchising its stores in 1961; in 1973 Ito-Yokado, a Japanese supermarket chain, signed a franchisee agreement with Southland Corporation to develop 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan. Operating the Japanese stores under Seven-Eleven Japan, Ito-Yokado acquired a 70% stake in Southland Corporation in 1991; as majority owner, it changed Southland Corporation's name to 7-Eleven, Inc. that same year, then expanded to 100% ownership in November 2005, making 7-Eleven, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven-Eleven Japan Ito-Yokado reorganized its collective businesses as a holding company in 2005, Seven & I Holdings, with 7-Eleven, Inc. wholly held by Seven-Eleven Japan.
7-Eleven operates, franchises and licenses roughly 85,000 stores in 20 countries and territories as of August 2024. Its stores operate under its namesake brand globally, including the United States, where it also operates as Speedway nationally but mostly in the Midwest and East Coast, and as Stripes Convenience Stores within the West South Central United States. Both Speedway and Stripes operate alongside 7-Eleven's namesake stores in several American markets. 7-Eleven also operates A-Plus locations with the name licensed from owner and fellow Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex-based Energy Transfer Partners, though most of these stores have since been rebranded as standard 7-Eleven stores.
