7-Eleven

7-Eleven is an international chain of convenience stores that operates, franchises and licenses some 58,300 stores (as of January 2016) in 17 countries.

7-Eleven Inc. is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, United States. Its parent company, Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd., is located in Tokyo, Japan. Seven-Eleven Japan is held by the Seven & I Holdings Co. holding company.

Etymologies

The company's first outlets were named "Tote'm Stores" because customers "toted" away their purchases. Some stores featured genuine Alaskan totem poles in front of the store. In 1946, the chain's name was changed from Tote'm to 7-Eleven to reflect the company's new, extended hours, 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, seven days per week. In November 1999, the corporate name of the company was changed from The Southland Corporation to 7-Eleven Inc.

History

In 1927, Southland Ice Company employee John Jefferson Green began selling eggs, milk, and bread from one of 16 ice house storefronts in Dallas, with permission from one of Southland's founding directors, Joe C. Thompson, Sr. Although small grocery stores and general merchandisers were available, Thompson theorized that selling products such as bread and milk in convenience stores would reduce the need for customers to travel long distances for basic items. He eventually bought the Southland Ice Company and turned it into Southland Corporation, which oversaw several locations in the Dallas area.