Next month will mark one year since 7-Eleven revealed the rollout of its “new standard” convenience stores, a next-generation prototype that the company is hoping will pave the way towards a profitable future after a rocky few years financially.
When it launched the concept last October, 7-Eleven said these locations will offer a larger product assortment and expanded food and beverage offerings compared to the rest of its locations, in addition to in-store seating. At the time, the retailer said it aimed to open over 600 of these stores by the end of 2027.
Although it’s unclear how many of these locations 7-Eleven has opened to date, the rollout began late last year in 7-Eleven’s backyard. The first new standard 7-Eleven opened last October in Allen, Texas, a suburb about 27 miles north of downtown Dallas — and roughly 30 miles northeast of 7-Eleven’s headquarters in Irving.
C-Store Dive visited that location in mid-September. Here’s a look inside the highly anticipated store.
A large forecourt and food. Lots of it.
Consumers pulling into the parking lot will notice the scale of a future-focused 7-Eleven, which has about a dozen parking spaces and roughly 12 fueling positions in front of the store. Although some new standard c-stores will include electric vehicle charging stations, this location does not. A spokesperson from 7-Eleven said in a statement to C-Store Dive that the company is customizing each location’s EV presence based on the needs of its community.
Customers will spot the 7-Eleven branding on the fuel canopy, which is a feature at these new locations, the spokesperson said.
“Fuel canopies are a common feature at many of our fuel locations, including our new standard stores,” the spokesperson said. “As part of our new format, we’ve expanded fuel forecourts to create a larger, more contemporary experience.”
7-Eleven’s focus on foodservice is clearly visible when entering the store, which is about 4,800 square feet — outsizing the 2,900 of a regular 7-Eleven, the spokesperson said.
Front and center is 7-Eleven’s coffee setup, which includes both hot and cold offerings with a machine dedicated to each temperature. The cold offerings notably include on-tap cold nitro brew, cold brew, vanilla and mocha flavors.
A few steps away is the Laredo Taco QSR. 7-Eleven has touted its proprietary restaurants as a major focal point of the new standard stores. Besides Laredo Taco, other stores may feature a Raise the Roost Chicken & Biscuits. 7-Eleven decides which concept will go in the store based on “the unique tastes and preferences of the communities we serve,” the company’s spokesperson said.
Near the QSR setup is the cold grab-and-go shelf, which features several offerings made in house, such as breaded chicken salads and chicken salad and smoked turkey sandwiches. This section even includes 7-Eleven’s famed egg sandwiches, which CEO Stephen Dacus recently told the New York Times would be coming to the U.S. from Japan.
The cold grab-and-go section and dispensed beverage area stand out with brand-new signage in large, bold lettering. 7-Eleven’s spokesperson said this is a new addition throughout the new standard stores, meant to “reflect the refreshed look” of these locations.
Past the assortment of snacks and candy is the beer cave, which was first introduced in 7-Eleven’s Evolution Stores concept back in 2019, the spokesperson said. The beer cave, which includes domestic, import and craft beers as well as hard seltzers, will also be a staple at new standard stores, they added.
But just because fresh food is the focal point of 7-Eleven’s new standard stores doesn’t mean traditional c-store staples aren’t included. Near the center of the store is a large roller grill setup featuring 7-Eleven’s Taquitos and hot dogs as well as a hot container offering pizza, fried chicken, chicken wings and mini tacos.
Towards the front of the store is a seating area meant for customers to sit and enjoy their food or a cup of coffee. This includes a high table along the window with five seats as well as five two-person tables. In total, there’s space for 15 people to dine in.
Visitors preparing to leave have two options to pay: in-person at the large register, which on this day had several customer service representatives at the counter, or through one of 7-Eleven’s self-checkout kiosks. Customers can also pay directly at the Laredo Taco QSR if they purchase one of the Mexican QSR’s bowls or burritos.
