Remembering Iowa 7-Eleven Locations, And Why We DON’T Miss ‘Em
Do you remember when 7-Eleven gas stations dotted the Midwest? I am from Minnesota, and I remember them being everywhere when I was growing up.
Then... seemingly one day, they vanished. Only, they didn't, they just abandoned most of the Midwest.
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Well, hot take: we don't need them back in Iowa!
Remembering 7-Eleven Stores
Without getting into the history of 7-Eleven, let's just say the company has had financial issues over the years. Many companies do, so it's not uncommon.
They've dealt with their woes, and as a result, the company has been sold a few times.
For whatever specific reason, in the 1990's after a majority of the company was sold to the Japanese supermarket chain Ito-Yokado, many Midwest locations began to vanish. In fact, all of the Iowa and Minnesota locations went extinct.
Chicago still has one seemingly on every corner, but alas, they've gone the way of the dodo locally.
Interestingly, despite not being around close to home, you'll find 7-Eleven locations in China, Cambodia, Japan (obviously), Philippines, Israel, South Korea, Suadi Arabia, and plenty of other locations around the globe including the United Kingdom, giving them a European footprint, too.
But unlike In-N-Out Burger which has a valid excuse for not opening in Iowa, what gives with 7-Eleven leaving for good?
7-Elevens in the Midwest up and leaving has actually become the subject of lore on message boards like the Iowa Reddit page, I'd like to clue you in on something if you haven't ever been to a 7-Eleven.
Or, if you've not been to one in many years, you ain't missing much.
My opinion of course, but as someone who travels and has visited 7-Eleven's around other parts of the country, I don't get the appeal.
They lack the fresh food options Iowa-based Casey's and Wisconsin-based Kwik Star offer us daily.
They have Slurpees... I guess. Not my jam, but if they're yours, you can certainly venture to Chicago to give one a try.
These days the company is doing very well. They recently purchased a gas station chain called Speedway for a staggering $21 billion. Speedways had tons of Midwest locations, and have better food options than I remember 7-Eleven having.
So, there's always a chance the chain will come back to the Hawkeye state, or franchise locally again and be more competitive with our current offerings.
In the meantime, trust me... you aren't missing much. Sorry Slurpee fans!
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