New Urban 7-Eleven Stores Popping Up in Miami

MIAMI -- Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. is adding to its Florida footprint with a twist. The retail giant is opening stores more suitable to Miami's environment with smaller, urban prototype stores.

According to The Miami Herald, the convenience stores are popping up around Downtown Miami. However, unlike 7-Eleven's in suburban areas, the stores do not have parking, and place an emphasis on fresh and grab-and-go foods aimed at downtown residents and workers.

Like all 7-Elevens, these locations are open 24 hours.

The Biscayne Boulevard 7-Eleven, which opened earlier this month in the New World Tower, is the retailer's third new walk-up corner store downtown. There is a fourth in West Brickell and a fifth under construction in a historic South Beach building, the newspaper reported.

The other two stores are on Flagler Street at Miami Avenue, and on Northeast Second Avenue on the ground floor of the Loft Downtown II building, which is near a Metromover station and across the street from Miami Dade College.

"It's doing very well, actually,'' said franchisee Bobby Abrol, who opened the 7-Eleven at the Loft building this past summer. "It's all these young couples and young singles who come downstairs for groceries, and the students of course. It's been a very positive location for me.''

The urban-style 7-Elevens are also found in other major cities like New York and Chicago. The format fits well with Miami.

"There is a large concentration of customers in these areas, and it makes sense to go where the customers are,'' 7-Eleven regional development manager Grant Distel told the newspaper. "There is an opportunity for us there.''

The urban stores average 1,800 square feet and feature more sophisticated design and finishes tailored to fit into the surroundings -- with discreet signage, butcher-shop-style tiles or wood on the interior walls, and architectural pendant lights, said Distel and company spokeswoman Margaret Chabris.

As for product offerings, all the stores have selections of fresh salads, fruit, pastries, pizzas, wraps and sandwiches, plus American coffee. Traditional c-store staples like chips, beef jerky and grilled hot dogs are also available, in addition to Slurpees.

 

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