7-Eleven to Close 645 Stores Across North America

The convenience store giant is shuttering nearly 5% of its locations as part of a major restructuring effort.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 7:41pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a sleek, geometric cash register placed elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background. The dramatic lighting and shadows create a sense of uncertainty and transition, symbolizing the corporate strategy challenges facing the 7-Eleven convenience store chain.As 7-Eleven's parent company works to streamline operations and optimize its store portfolio, the closure of 645 North American locations signals a major shift for the iconic convenience store brand.Dallas Today

The parent company of 7-Eleven, Seven & i Holdings, has announced plans to close 645 stores across North America during its 2026 fiscal year. The closures are part of a broader effort to streamline operations and optimize the company's store portfolio, which has seen two consecutive years of negative growth in the region. While 7-Eleven will be shuttering nearly 5% of its North American locations, the company also intends to open 205 new convenience stores between now and next February.

Why it matters

The 7-Eleven brand has long been a ubiquitous part of the North American retail landscape, with over 13,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada as of 2024. These planned closures represent a significant contraction for the convenience store giant, reflecting broader challenges facing the industry such as increased competition, changing consumer habits, and the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details

The 645 store closures are part of Seven & i Holdings' efforts to 'streamline operations and optimize its store portfolio.' The company did not specify which individual locations will be shuttered, but noted that some of the closed stores will be converted into wholesale fuel locations. In addition to the closures, 7-Eleven also plans to open 205 new convenience stores between the present day and next February.

  • Seven & i Holdings plans to close the 645 stores during its 2026 fiscal year.
  • In 2024, over 400 North American 7-Elevens were slated to close due to underperformance.

The players

Seven & i Holdings

The parent company of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain, which is headquartered in Japan and operates over 21,000 stores globally.

7-Eleven

A global convenience store brand that was founded in 1927 and has grown to become the world's largest retailer by number of stores, with over 13,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada as of 2024.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Seven & i Holdings has not provided a specific timeline for which 7-Eleven locations will be closed, but has indicated the closures will take place during the company's 2026 fiscal year.

The takeaway

The planned 7-Eleven store closures reflect the ongoing challenges facing the convenience store industry, including increased competition from other retail formats and changing consumer shopping habits. While 7-Eleven remains a dominant player, the contraction of its North American footprint by nearly 5% suggests the company is working to streamline its operations and focus on its most profitable locations.