Ubiquitous Convenience Store Invades NYC

New York City has been able to avoid the infiltration of everyone’s favorite/least-favorite super-mega-massive retail store (FOR NOW, though they’re doing everything they can to get in, as evidenced by this incredible piece of PR, “hiring our heros,” amazing), but while everyone has been huffing and puffing about Walmart potentially ravaging local businesses, 7–11 has totally infiltrated the place and is already doing it! SNEAKY.

The Daily News reports that 7–11 plans to open 114 stores in Manhattan in the next five years. They are going to be EVERYWHERE. It is going to be awesome. Syke, it’ll be terrible because all of the bodegas will close. 🙁

CHECK IT:

A half-gallon of milk sold for $3.50 at Café Lafayette. It was priced at just $1.99 at the new 7-Eleven. The cheaper prices come from the chain’s ability to buy in bulk.

That is not an insignificant amount of money! But maybe people will vote with their dollars for small businesses and homemade egg sandos over whatever it is that 7–11 serves?

Omar Irfan, the 46-year-old co-owner of Gramercy Corner at 20th St. and Third Ave. estimates that 7-Eleven took away 25–30% of his business.

HMM. GUESS NOT. But it’s not too late! We can still all go buy $3.50 milk from Omar! And additionally: nothing from 7–11. Cheaper prices are nice, but at what cost? Being exposed to terrible (TERRIBLE) lighting, for one. And for two, having to even look at those sausage roller things while you’re just getting some coffee and a candy bar? No, thanks. New rule: We only go to 7–11 for Slurpees. THAT’S IT.

Can we all pinky swear on that? Great. Thanks.

Photo credit: flickr/manwithface

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