10 amazing & fun facts about 7-Eleven you probably didn’t know of

Last Updated on 2016-05-19 , 1:54 pm

You have to admit, we have all been relying on this 24 hour joint for so long we may have taken its presence for granted. I mean, it’s probably the place to go get some light snacks at any time of the night when we feel like it. And because of this complacency, many of us don’t exactly know how this convenience store conglomerate came about.

Below are 10 interesting facts about 7-Eleven that you probably have no inkling about.

7-Eleven started in 1927 and is an American name
Yes, 7-Eleven was started in Dallas, Texas in 1927, although I’m sure many of us thought it is an Asian brand.

7-Eleven is the first ever convenience store
In fact, the first outlets were named “Tote’m Stores” as customers “toted” away their purchases. This was also affirmed when totem poles were used as marketing tools for the brand. Only after the opening hours were changed to 7:00 am to 11:00 pm did the corporate name of the company change from The Southland Corporation to 7-Eleven inc.

The first stores didn’t operate 24 hours, 7 days a week
It was only after having to cater to a rush of students following a University of Texas football game that they were forced to stay open until dawn the next day. They then stayed open all night on weekends, gradually moving on to the 24 hours, 7 days a week opening hours.

7-Eleven ran the first television advertisement for a convenience store in 1949
The first television advertisement ran by 7-Eleven featured their curbside grocery delivery service and an animated rooster and owl that reminded customers of the stores’ opening hours.

7-Elevens are different all over the world
What you may find and do in our 7-Eleven stores may not be the same in another country. In America, the store is seen as more of a convenient place to grab coffee before work or a Big Gulp while you are running errands. In Japan, 7-Elevens feature an array of delectable food items that range from sushi to full-blown meals such as fried rice and chicken katsu.

Why is the Slurpee called…a Slurpee?
This frozen beverage was invented in a Dairy Queen first and when the drink concept was licensed to  7-Eleven in 1965, the company’s marketing department named it the Slurpee after the sound made while sipping it through a straw.

7-Eleven is one of the world’s largest franchise companies
This international chain operates, franchises and licenses some 58,300 stores as of January 2016 in 17 countries worldwide. How’s that for large?

7-Eleven is the first retailer to offer fresh-brewed coffee in to-go cups
Recognizing the need for a quick cuppa on the way to work, 7-Eleven decided that this was the way to go and became the pioneer in offering coffee on the go.

There is a Slurpee drink’s iPhone and Android Application
This app made it easy to find 7-Eleven stores and provide driving directions.

7-Eleven has been featured in many American shows, cartoons, songs and even video games
if you haven’t noticed, 7-Eleven has been on sitcoms such as Futurama as a convenience store called 7, in Grand Theft Auto as a chain of convenience stores known as 24/7, and was a Beyoncé song that was released on 25 November, 2014, just to cite some examples.

Top Image: Sorbis / Shutterstock.com