In a move that might change the way Americans think about gas station food forever, 7-Eleven has announced it will open more than 1,100 new restaurants by the end of the decade.
Yes, restaurants — not just warmer-case taquitos.
The convenience chain, best known for its Big Gulps and 2 a.m. snack runs, is shifting into full-scale foodservice with the kind of ambition you’d expect from a startup, not a nearly 100-year-old brand. It’s a surprising (and oddly fitting) twist for a company already embedded in daily routines across the country.
The decision comes just weeks after a failed $47 billion buyout bid from Circle K’s parent company, a shake-up that forced 7-Eleven’s leadership to rethink their long-term strategy. Rather than scaling back, they’re going bigger — launching hundreds of larger-format stores, reworking their value proposition, and making food the centerpiece of their growth. It follows another major portfolio move: the closure of 444 underperforming stores across North America earlier this year as part of a streamlining effort.
This isn’t a cosmetic change. It’s a reinvention.
At the heart of the plan is a bold effort to overcome two challenges: the slow decline of fuel sales, and the public’s low expectations when it comes to eating at a convenience store. 7-Eleven wants to change both. And they’re betting on food — real, freshly made food — to do it.
So what does that future look like? Details are still under wraps, but the company already operates dozens of Laredo Taco Company locations and its own fried chicken concept, Raise the Roost. This next wave will likely expand on that model, but with a more aggressive footprint and faster delivery. Their 7NOW platform promises 30-minute delivery in hundreds of markets and is growing fast.
For customers, that means dinner from 7-Eleven might soon be as normal as grabbing lunch from Chipotle.
It’s a risky bet, but also an oddly intuitive one. After all, convenience is baked into the brand. If they can offer fresh, fast meals at a competitive price without losing the grab-and-go charm, they could quietly become one of the country’s biggest foodservice players.
It may sound strange now, but give it a few years. In 2030, dinner at a gas station might not be a punchline; it might just be your Tuesday night plan.