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

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

KFC in Grafton, VA

KFC. When you hear that, what do you think of? Probably, you think of Kentucky, Colonel Sanders, Fried Chicken, Rotating bucket, right?

When you live in Grafton, VA, when you say "Heritage Square", the first thing that you might think of is "KFC".

This KFC:

Nice, beautiful, old KFC isn't it? I love KFC, their original recipe chicken breasts make me have to eat two pieces. And their popcorn chicken and boneless honey bbq wings, dee-lish! Its no wonder Hampton Roads has so many locations.

As you probably know, that look, with the biscuit box, is outdated. The restaurants are supposed to look like this now:

So, the first time I saw Grafton's new signs (June 2008), I thought it was odd to not have any rennovations (like the old Newport News store above).

Okay, I'll stop rambling, I'll explain my Kentucky Fried Knowledge from Grafton:

So, we all know what the KFCs looked like during the 60s and 70s, right? Of course, little boxes with striped roofs, like this:

So, Grafton, had one of these decades ago. I don't think my parents ever ate there, which is now a cleaners and tux rental, they had to be gone by the early 80s (my dad said he rented a tuxedo here back then).

Very cool, old black and white building. I don't know if it was a re-location, thats my theory, but Heritage Square was built in the 70s, one of the first in Grafton. So, KFC decided to open a store there.

That picture was taken in December 2007, when the store still had the 1991 logo (and they had the 80s logo before, note the "Kentucky Fried Chicken" sign. So along with Pizza Hut, First Virginia Bank, McDonald's, Revco pharmacy, and Giant Open Air supermarket, KFC was a main tenant. However, like most KFCs today, they didn't have a buffet, but I liked their old school atmosphere.

The food was okay here, the buffets are better most of the time. The place wasn't reall

y busy most times I went in. In June 08 I was sure they were going to get renovated. All they did was put up the current logo on the sign and biscuit box, and take down the window decals of the Colonel's face. I wasn't expecting them to close.

On the night of May 16, 2009, I was staying with my dad in Yorktown, and we were in Kiln Creek that night. We drove by the KFC on the way home, and I noticed the absence of the signs. I thought it was just changing the lights or getting them cleaned. I was wrong. We drove to the McDonald's in Tabb in front of the Wal-Mart, and I noticed the signs were still gone, al

l the ads in the window were gone, and there were no cars in the parking lot, only a big dumpster. It was obvious: the old KFC closed. Permedantly.

After we ate I told him to drive there to let me take pictures. Inside the lights were on, and a sign was outside of the door.

J Clyde Morris? That's NOT nearby!

The J Clyde Morris location is about 10 minutes up the road in Newport News. It is actually a conjoined restaurant with a Taco Bell, so that means no buffet. I don't like the food at the conjoined ones, its terrible, at least at Poquoson (KenTacoHut).

Back on subject, I called my mom and told her that we would have to start getting KFC from Riverdale (in Hampton on Mercury, not a buffet, but their food is good). A week later, we were in Hampton, and the KFC received a fresh coat of paint:

Inside, the lights were off, and the chairs were on top of the tables. All the faded old KFC art, except for the one of the Colonel (which was a photograph) was still on the walls, along with the classic tan wallpaper and wooden structures. The Pepsi machine was still on the counter, along with the black menu boards that once had pictures of chicken. The kitchen was pretty empty though.

Sad to see this one flip so soon. I don't know what will become of this, maybe another restaurant might move in since the furniture is still intact (maybe a Popeye's or Bojangles). IDK, but I'll stay updated.

RIP KFC fried chicken, 350 George Washington Mem Hwy, Grafton, VA‎.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

I'm pro again

For those who didn't see, I'm a pro member as of May 9, 2009 on Flickr again. Thanks to Jeff! I don't have anything to really post right now, but what I'm wanting to shoot pictures of now is some cool local abandoned houses, something I've never really done. I'm still in school so theres less store ones, most being taken on the weekends. So I'm glad I'm back!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Subway restaurants: eat fresh anywhere in Hampton Roads

I'm sure you've heard of Subway, the no. 1 sub restaurant in America. Over here in Hampton Roads, they are everywhere!

A few older ones still have the 90s logo. You know, the one that was replaced in 2002 by the "slanty" one.



The above is the store in Tabb, VA, in Kiln Creek's Village Square shopping center. They opened in 1994-1995 if I'm correct.

This was a store in Hayes, Virginia that opened in 1998:

It moved to a new store later in 2008, and the old store is empty. The inside is completely wiped out, except for the bathrooms.

These stores had a green wallpaper that had a map of New York City, since there are subways there.

Some of them have the new logo and "brick" look with the yellow NYC wallpaper, as well as counters with deli items on it. The one at Patrick Henry Mall was recently renovated:


Something I recently noticed is that a few Subways are moving into former Taco Bells! They have one in Hampton like this. This one is in Richmond:

Another one closed recently, it was in an East Coast gas station in Gloucester Point (another part of Gloucester, right at the foot of the Coleman Bridge). Its used for storage now, I'm guessing.



A lot are opening in Super Wally Worlds. Wal-Mart apparently doesn't want obesity from McDonald's, so they want to remove Mickey Ds and put Subways in:


They're even in hospitals now! Mary Immaculate, the one I was born in, has one now:

Speaking of sub restaurants, locally we have "Subway Station". It is NOT a knockoff. When you first glance at it, you might see a copycat that looks like it came from the Beatles. It is NOT! We had one in YRC shopping center before Subway came. It closed in 1994 or 1995, and its Verizon now, see below. Another one closed recently, see below.






So, I think my point has been made, Subways are everywhere! And on my photostream! Pictures of Subway restaurants throughout Hampton Roads can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/ryanrules! And remember, eat fresh!

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