7-Eleven store design history

You can't go anywhere without seeing one. 7-Eleven. This store was founded in 1927 when Southland Ice Company employee Joe Thompson sold convenient items at an ice dock, which he discovered was popular. He bought the company and opened several locations in the Dallas area, which were open from 7 am to 11 pm. In 1946 the 7-Eleven name started to be used. The original design was a small simple store like this (photo credit goes to Roadsidepictures) from 1947:

7 Eleven, 1947
Originally uploaded by Roadsidepictures

In 1952 the 100th location opened. In the 60s they were starting to expand because of convenient popularity. In 1967 the company decided to make up some new building architect. Among the few was the well known "colonial" a-frame stores:

The original a-frames consisted of a black-shingled a-frame roof with white-lining on the roof, and a cupola. The front had the small square 7-Eleven logo beside two red squares, which are now orange, green, and red. Some locations also had a longer rectangle logo with the same design. Below was poles on the sidewalk and entry area, with orangish-brown brick. Most stores consisted of the actual store, an employee's office, the vault where frozen foods were kept, a warehouse, and an outdoor closet, and a few had bathrooms and an ATM room. In front was the familiar upright rectangle 7-Eleven sign, which was white with the logo that extended into green, on a black pole. Some variations also had a red "Open 24 Hours" sign, or a white-letter "Food Mart" sign.
Here is a late 60s 7-Eleven with the cupola, which is now a laundromat, and an early 70s 3-squared store sign:

Here is a vintage sign and an old sign mentioned above:


In the late 70s/early 80s 7-Elevens started to experiment with gasoline, which some competition had. The a-frames were also removed and replaced by a single triangle frame, or no frame at all, the stores started to get bigger, and existing stores started to get gas. Here is an example:

The gas signs also varied. Above was a small 2-square stacked sign with the logo and the Citgo (now either an "Oh Thank Heaven!" sign or a "Fast & Fresh" sign) and the 3 prices. Another was a tall 3-square stacked sign with the logo on top, the Citgo (now either an "Oh Thank Heaven!" sign or a "Fast & Fresh" sign) logo in the middle, and the gas prices on the bottom.

Here is a building with gas from the late 80s:

The stores without gas had a square sign on two poles with the logo. Sometimes they replaced the rectangular ones. Here is an example:

In the 1990s stores were getting even bigger, and a lot of small 70s stores began to move into bigger, Citgo gas stores. The buildings also had khaki colored bricks and bigger restrooms, and the inside was roomier. Here is a late 90s store:

I don't know much about the early 2000s since none opened over here at the time. I do have a picture of a unique 2002 one:

Today, 7-Elevens are getting more upscale. The buildings are beautiful and still consist of red brick. The signs are now small rectangular signs with the logo, small slogan, and gas prices. Here is one that opened in 2007:

In conclusion, even though 7-Eleven has went through many changes, the concept still remains, and America will always thank heaven.

The (dead) Shops at York River

The York River Crossing shopping center was built on George Washington Memorial Highway in
Hayes, VA, in 1990. With tenants like Food Lion, Peebles, Regal Cinemas, KFC, Taco Bell, Burger King, Advance AutoParts, Crown gas, Little Caesars pizza, Subway Station, Regal Cinemas and more, this was one hot new spot.
In 1998, a new strip opened in front, called "The Shops at York River, fit for 9 tenants. I know all the first tenants, there were 6 (3 of them used 2 stores). They were:

and Eastern Eye Associates optometry

Liberty, Subway, and EEA took up 2 tenants. GNC, Allstate, and Liberty were larger stores btw. Anyways, all of those opened 1998-1999. And all but 1 have closed in the past 11 years.

I think it was around 2003 when GNC closed, followed by Allstate in 2004 who moved up the street with their orthodontist friend. Don't think I ever went into the GNC, I had no business in there. We're members with Allstate, and I used to take in the bills. When you entered, it was a big lobby with a desk in the back, and couches w/magazines in the front. I think the walls were light blue. After both closed, Carolina Cuties, a child's boutique shop, occupied the former GNC store, and Weight Loss for Life occupied the former Allstate. Both closed in 2007.

Also, in 2007, in York River Crossing, little Langley Federal Credit Union moved to the "Lighthouse" up the road at the old Hayes Shopping Center, in a former Chesapeake Bank that also moved. Radio Shack decided to move there, and they died. They are now Tech Zone. The old Radio Shack at TSAYR still sits vacant.

In February 2008 an FDR Restaurant opened in the former GNC and Allstate. There was also a Newport News location. The dining room was the GNC, and the kitchen was the Allstate. This restaurant closed in late 2008 after a buyout (the Newport News store is now a pizza parlor), and it sits vacant with the sign still up.

In September 2008, Subway found opportunity for a better store at the Hayes Shopping Center, in an old pet center. The opportunity was more space, the current yellow wallpaper look with the ingredients on the counter, and more parking. The two stores it took up sit vacant. The sign left behind a very dirty labelscar, but it was cleaned and painted over.

Soooo.... what's left? Liberty Tax and the Optometry. Beginning in late 2008 a brick building was being built a few miles down the highway. Eastern Eye decided to move. The new store opened on June 1st, 2009, and the two stores it occupied currently sit vacant. The sign hasn't been taken down yet (6-19-09).

Liberty Tax sits all alone in the once thriving new strip. I have a feeling they'll be leaving soon, and the whole strip will be torn down.

Now, here's some pictures:

The Eastern Eye when it was open

Subway when open
Liberty Tax and the old Radio Shack

The FDR before closure

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