7-Eleven Embarks on Major Transformation, Closing 645 Stores to Open 205 New Larger Formats

The convenience store giant is shifting focus to fresh and prepared foods, cleanliness, and an elevated customer experience.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 9:08am

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A minimalist, high-contrast studio photograph showcasing a curated selection of 7-Eleven's new premium food and beverage offerings, conveying the chain's shift towards a more elevated, polished image.7-Eleven's revamped store concept aims to elevate the customer experience with a focus on fresh, high-quality food and an enhanced retail environment.Daytona Beach Today

7-Eleven's parent company, Seven & i Holdings, announced plans to close 645 underperforming stores across the U.S. while opening 205 new, larger-format locations with a greater emphasis on fresh and prepared foods, cleanliness, and an improved customer experience. The new stores will feature wider aisles, in-store seating, and expanded offerings like hot meals, as the company aims to remain the "first choice for convenience."

Why it matters

The move comes as 7-Eleven acknowledges its performance has been weak compared to competitors, with some customers perceiving the chain's traditional stores as "sketchy" and lacking in quality and consistency. The revamp is an effort to build consumer trust, particularly around food service and grocery offerings.

The details

The new 7-Eleven stores will be around 5,080 square feet, double the size of many legacy locations. They will feature a contemporary open floor plan with high ceilings, wider aisles, and clearly marked sections for different product categories. The stores will offer a variety of fresh and prepared foods, including hot items like chicken wings and sandwiches, as well as an extensive coffee station and in-store seating. The company also plans to increase the number of stores with adjacent restaurants or food service outlets.

  • 7-Eleven plans to close 645 underperforming stores by the end of February 2027.
  • The company will open 205 new, larger-format stores across the U.S. as part of its transformation.

The players

Steve Dacus

CEO of Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd., the Japanese-based parent company of 7-Eleven.

Dhaval Patel

A local 7-Eleven franchisee who owns one of the chain's new large-format stores in Daytona Beach, Florida.

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What they’re saying

“Our ambition is clear: to remain the first choice for convenience.”

— Steve Dacus, CEO, Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd.

“I think it's the right move and I'm excited about it.”

— Dhaval Patel, 7-Eleven franchisee

What’s next

The company plans to prioritize renovating existing 7-Eleven stores to fit the new model, in addition to the 205 new large-format locations.

The takeaway

7-Eleven's major transformation, including the closure of hundreds of underperforming stores and the opening of larger, food-focused locations, reflects the chain's effort to improve its image, quality, and consistency in order to better compete with rivals and regain customer trust, particularly around its food and grocery offerings.