Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui Convenience Store: 7-Eleven

July 16, 2023 345 Views

7-Eleven is a convenience store that originated in the United States. It was established in the U.S. in 1927, but it wasn’t until 1974 that it expanded into Japan. It then arrived in South Korea in 1989.

Initially, 7-Eleven was based on the Southland Ice Company, founded in Texas in 1927. While it primarily sold ice at first, they later utilized the advantage of operating from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. to start selling simple food items like bread and milk.

Over time, they began to sell a wider range of items, evolving into a convenience store similar to what we see today. In 1946, they changed their name to “7-Eleven” based on their operating hours.

“7-Eleven’s Entry into Japan”

7-Eleven expanded into Japan in 1974. After entering Japan, 7-Eleven saw even greater growth compared to its operations in the U.S. Eventually, they acquired a significant portion of shares in the Southland company, the headquarters of 7-Eleven, from the Japanese supermarket chain Ito-Yokado. In 2005, they went on to buy out all the remaining shares, becoming a fully Japanese-owned company.

Nowadays, you can find 7-Eleven stores all around the world, including in Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui Convenience Store: 7-Eleven”

During the early stages of this Hong Kong trip, I stayed in Tsim Sha Tsui, and since I arrived late, I needed to find something to eat nearby. The most convenient option was 7-Eleven.

Having just arrived in Hong Kong, I didn’t have any food or drinks at my accommodation, so this was a straightforward place to visit for a quick snack. At the same time, I took the opportunity to capture the atmosphere of Tsim Sha Tsui’s 7-Eleven, which had a different vibe from what I was used to in Korea.

“Nothing Particularly Special about 7-Eleven”

The 7-Eleven I visited in Tsim Sha Tsui was relatively small and didn’t offer a wide variety of products, which might be due to the high cost of land in Hong Kong. It was quite similar to the 7-Eleven stores in Korea, so I would say that the overall scene wasn’t significantly different.

Still, it was a place where I could see and experience what 7-Eleven looks like in Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui, 7-Eleven”