7-Eleven: Your Everything Store

Growing up in Canada, 7-Eleven was much like any other corner store. Some corner stores were mom and pop shops and some were branded and chains, like 7-Eleven, but they were all pretty much the same. Soft drinks, slushies, candy, sports cards, a very small amount of basic home items and cigarettes behind the counter.

7-Eleven in Thailand is nothing like at home and as a foreigner here, I find them amazing and incredibly useful. First of all, 7 (as it’s called here, dropping the 11) is everywhere. I mean literally everywhere. In cities it’s not rare to be standing at one 7 and to be able to see another one just down the street. There are a few places in Bangkok where there are literally 7s on 3 and in at least one case, all four corners of an intersection. I’ve also seen (in Chiang Mai) two 7s directly next to each other - side by side doors go into totally different 7s.

So why is 7 so useful? They basically are a mini version of everything you need to live - grocery store, home ware, dollar store, cafe, restaurant, bank, travel agency, entertainment, pharmacy, and more. How they fit all of this into one small store is beyond me but it’s brilliant. The other notable thing is that it’s surprisingly high quality. We get cappuccinos, americanos, and espresso frappes quite regularly and they’re always solid. The sandwiches and pastries are always fresh and surprisingly excellent. A couple days ago we watched fresh buns being made in the 7 so it’s a bakery too. We’ve paid bills at 7s and also purchased airline tickets. You can also get packages delivered to you at a 7.

A couple other Asian countries, including Taiwan and Japan, have similar 7s that do it all. There are many things North America can learn from Asia and how to have a convenience store that is truly convenient in every way is right near the top of that list.