7-Eleven is preparing to close hundreds of stores across the United States as the convenience chain moves toward a dramatically different future. During its 2026 fiscal year, which runs from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2027, the company plans to close 645 locations while investing in larger stores, more prepared food, and a broader retail strategy.
According to The New York Post, the closures are part of a larger overhaul underway at parent company Seven & I Holdings. Rather than relying on smaller convenience stores built around cigarettes, soda, and quick snacks, 7-Eleven is shifting toward larger locations designed to compete with chains like Wawa, Sheetz, and Buc-ee’s.
Those new stores are expected to feature expanded kitchens, more beverages, grab-and-go meals, and even grocery-style items.
Founded in 1927 and now operating roughly 85,000 stores worldwide, 7-Eleven has long been associated with Slurpees, Big Gulps, and late-night snack runs. But in recent years, convenience stores have increasingly focused on fresh food and prepared meals, especially as customers seek quicker alternatives to fast-food restaurants.
7-Eleven has already begun teasing new menu items, including milk bread, egg sandwiches, and miso ramen.
Company executives say the early results from the new format have been promising. “These food-forward stores are resonating with our customers and driving average sales per store day about 18% higher than our system average,” 7-Eleven President Stan Reynolds said during the company’s latest earnings call.
Reynolds added that the company plans to continue refining the model “to meet the needs of consumers both now and in the future.”
Cigarette sales, which were once one of the industry’s biggest profit drivers, have dropped 26% since 2019. Inflation and lower foot traffic have also put pressure on smaller locations.
7-Eleven has already closed more than 600 stores across 2024 and 2025 combined, including nearly 450 locations in North America.
At the same time, the company is still planning to open new stores. It expects to open 122 locations this year and another 205 next year, while pursuing a larger goal of adding 500 new stores between 2025 and 2027.
Blake Droesch, a senior retail analyst at eMarketer, recently said on a podcast that 7-Eleven is “completely shifting” from being only a convenience store into something closer to a hybrid of restaurant, grocery store, and gas station.
That transformation is happening as Seven & I Holdings prepares to spin off and eventually take 7-Eleven public, a move now expected in 2027.
