Finding a quick, convenient stop on your next road trip may be a little more difficult, as 7-Eleven announced it will be closing hundreds of stores and converting others to gas station-only locations across North America in the coming months.
According to a fourth-quarter earnings report by Seven & i Holdings, the parent company of 7-Eleven, the company is set to close 645 convenience stores in North America over the fiscal year, which runs from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
While it feels like a major hit, it's important to note that the company still operates 13,000 stores in North America, meaning the closure affects just a small percentage of its total stores. Furthermore, not all of the 645 locations will "close" entirely, as some will be refurbished into "wholesale fuel stores," a.k.a. those aforementioned gas stations. That means that some of the combo convenience store-gas stations may shutter their stores, making it tough to snag a bag of chips and a cheeky bit of candy on the road.
The Associated Press noted that this is seemingly in line with the company's goals, as it has been opening many of these wholesale fuel stores in North America, which account for more than 900 7-Eleven locations as of December 2025.
There was also a little good news in the fiscal documents. While the company is closing 645 stores, it also said it plans to open 205, bringing the total closure count to 440.
The documents, however, left out which locations are slated for either conversion or closure, leaving fans to wonder if their favorite Slurpee spot will be spared.
The other good news is that there are some fun new items to try at the remaining locations, including the Japanese-Style Egg Salad Sandwich—also known as the tamago sando—that made its debut in U.S. locations in late 2025.
"The egg salad sandwich has long been a favorite item in 7-Eleven stores across Japan, and we're excited to introduce a version for customers in the U.S. inspired by its beloved flavor," Brandon Brown, the senior vice president of fresh foods at 7-Eleven, Inc., shared in a statement at the time. "Fans across the country can now enjoy the new Japanese-Style Egg Salad Sandwich and experience a take on one of our most popular international offerings that has captured hearts and appetites around the world."
And it seems more food offerings may be on the horizon. As Stan Reynolds, the company's president, shared in the company's Q4 earnings call, its “food-forward stores are resonating with our customers and driving [average sales per store day] about 18% higher than our system average. He added, “We’ll continue learning from these stores and refine our new store standard to meet the needs of consumers both now and in the future.”
Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist with two decades of newsroom experience. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Food & Wine, Glamour, Men's Health, Afar, and many more. Stacey also served as an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Southern California teaching feature writing and visual journalism. She is also a Ph.D. Candidate with a specialty in building resiliency to misinformation.
