7-Eleven to Close Hundreds of Stores Across North America

Parent company Seven & i Holdings confirms 645 locations will shutter in 2026 fiscal year as part of a portfolio optimization strategy.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:09am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a sleek cash register, a stylized convenience store shelf, and a few key ingredients for prepared meals, conceptually representing the business strategy and market forces behind 7-Eleven's store closures.As 7-Eleven shifts its focus to larger, food-centric store formats, the company's portfolio optimization strategy will see hundreds of smaller, underperforming locations shuttered across North America.NYC Today

7-Eleven is preparing to close hundreds of convenience stores across North America as part of a multiyear restructuring plan that is reshaping the company's operations. Parent company Seven & i Holdings confirmed that 645 7-Eleven locations across North America are scheduled to close during the company's 2026 fiscal year, as the retailer shifts focus toward larger, food-centric store formats.

Why it matters

The closures reflect changing consumer habits, with traditional convenience store staples like tobacco and fuel no longer driving growth, while demand for prepared foods, hot meals and specialty drinks has increased. Older, smaller 7-Eleven stores often lack the space or infrastructure to support these expanded food offerings, making them harder to justify financially.

The details

The upcoming closures are a continuation and acceleration of a trend that has already seen 7-Eleven shutter more than 600 stores across 2024 and 2025. While hundreds of locations are closing, the company plans to open more than 200 new stores during the same fiscal year, largely focusing on larger, food-centric formats that emphasize fresh food, made-to-order meals and improved in-store experiences.

  • 7-Eleven's 2026 fiscal year runs from March 2026 through February 2027.
  • The company has already closed more than 600 stores across 2024 and 2025.

The players

Seven & i Holdings

The parent company of 7-Eleven that confirmed the upcoming store closures.

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What’s next

The company has not released a list of the specific stores set to close, meaning some consumers may not know whether their local 7-Eleven store is affected until the store physically shutters.

The takeaway

The 7-Eleven restructuring reflects broader shifts in the convenience store industry, as consumers demand more food-focused offerings and traditional staples like tobacco and fuel become less important. While hundreds of smaller stores will close, the company plans to open new, larger locations that can better accommodate changing customer preferences.