Talk:Convenience store/Archive 1

{[talkarchivenav}}

Definition
Weakness of my "convenience store" definition is that ones that don't sell gasoline will sound like the average U.S. supermarket. I'm not sure how to change it so that it does describe convenience stores and only convenience stores--it's like pornography I guess, "I know it when I see it." Any help? Koyaanis Qatsi

Well, they're smaller than a supermarket, generally. Brion VIBBER

In larger cities in the US, convenience stores that don't sell gasoline are fairly common. In smaller towns, the convenience store tends to also function as a gasoline station. To separate them from supermarkets, you could note that they tend to have (due to limited space) a smaller selection of items and (due to convenience) higher prices for them. Wheat

I think there should be some mention of the fact that being a clerk in a convenience store is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Every year a number of clerks are murdered for just a few dollars in the register.

Holden 27

Isn't the section on stores in the US slightly racist? Bodhidharma 02:03, May 22, 2005 (UTC)

Stating a common cultural perception is not racist. Political correctness is a controversial subject for it's intended denial of commonly accepted phenomena because someone might not like the phenomena observed. However, whether a statement is politically correct or not does not define whether it is racist.

Dodger 03:59, 9 August 2005 (UTC)

Sheetz Sales
The Sheetz in Altoona is selling beer again as of May 2010, so the part about this in the article needs to be fixed. Does anyone have information on how they managed to get selling again? Defunctzombie (talk) 11:59, 8 June 2010 (UTC)

Incorrect Assesment
I've removed the following paragraph:

"Since the states of New Jersey and Oregon prohibit motorists from pupmping their own gas, convenience stores in those states are often separate entities from gas stations"

...because, in my experience as a long-term Portland resident, it's simply not true. I've also lived in the northeast suburbs of Philadelphia and not noted any strong predisposition for convenience stores and gas stations to be seperate, though I wasn't paying as much attention at the time.

However, in the Portland metropolitan area, I can state unequivocally, that the assertion I removed is total bunk. There are no less convenience-store/gas station combinations (AM-PMs, 7-11s, Plaid Pantries, Shell Stations, and so on) than I have found in, for instance, the Chicago area, nor are there any more instances of convenience stores without fuel than I have found in the Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York and even Perth, Western Australia areas.

It's nonsense.

Dodger 03:57, 9 August 2005 (UTC)

I removed the following:

In New England, convenience stores are colloquially refered to as packies, short for package stores. In Maryland however, a store that advertises selling "packaged goods" is a liquor store.

In New England, "packies" are liquor stores, just like Maryland, evidently. Due to old blue laws, virtually no alcohol is sold in conveience stores.

--24.215.160.29 14:03, 27 June 2006 (UTC) Kristen

Owned by Indians
I don't think the statements about Convenience Stores in the US being owned by Indians is the most important feature about US Convenience Stores, so I moved that to the end of the section. I also took out the reference to The Simpsons, since that seems trivial and to leave it in invites the inclusion of wide spread allusions to pop culture references. I'd also like to see some documentation stating who owns convenience stores in the US so we can back up this assertion. Crunch 14:50, 15 January 2006 (UTC)

Cigarettes / Not Cheap / Drunk People
Hi, I realize that this article is world-wide in scope, but don't they sell cigarettes in convenience stores in other parts of the world? Cigarettes are huge part of the sales in American stores of this type. Anecdotally, the Texaco Star Mart I was once working at was getting painted one day. All the fixtures were taken out of the store, and all we were selling that day was gas, cigarettes, coffee, and whatever was in the cooler. There was virtually no difference in sales.. Didn't realize there was a US section. Rob 08:12, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

They're called convenience stores and not cheap stores, price is the main difference, so that should change. If you want a bag of dog food at 3AM local in the US, they're going to get you for approximately $20. I see where you covered that. Rob 10:52, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

Do convenience stores in other parts of the world experience an influx in customers when the bars close? Rob 08:12, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

Rewrote US Section
I rewrote the information in the US section, and split the US and Canada into separate sections. The information in the US section was incorrect. I've worked at 7-11, Uni-Mart and at a Texaco Food Mart. The stuff about armed robbery was in there previoulsy, I left it in there. What I found interesting was that a lot of usual American terms aren't in Wikipedia:


 * hold up or held up
 * gunpoint
 * strongarm
 * slim jims found them. Rob 20:08, 13 March 2006 (UTC)
 * snack cakes
 * last call
 * closing time

Here's the new US section. Comments/Edits welcome. Rob 11:02, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

Convenience stores in the United States
The first convenience store in the United States was opened in Dallas, Texas in 1927 by the Southland Ice Company, which eventually became 7-Eleven. Since that time many different convenience store brands have developed, and may either be corporate-owned or franchises. The items offered for sale tend to be similar despite store brand, and almost always include milk, bread, soda (soft drinks), cigarettes, coffee, slurpees, candy bars, snack cakes, Slim Jims, hot dogs, ice cream, candy, gum,  chips, pretzels, popcorn, beef jerky, doughnuts, maps, magazines, newspapers, small toys, car supplies, feminine hygiene products, and toilet paper. Other less common items include sandwiches, pizza, and frozen foods. Most convenience stores also sell gas. This is because as service stations began closing during the 1970s energy crisis, their parent companies converted the stations into convenience stores, eliminating the service bays. Even today, many convenience store chains are owned by oil companies.

Since alcoholic beverages are regulated in the United States by the individual state governments, the availability of beer and liquor and varies from one state to another. For example, convenience stores in Pennsylvania are not permitted to sell any alcohol, but convenience stores in Florida are permitted to sell beer only. Some Americans will cross state lines to buy alcohol at a convenience store in another American state, if they have that choice. Frequently, Americans of legal drinking age, will shop at a convenience store after "last call" (closing time) of their favorite bar to purchase typical American convenience store items, a source of both concern and amusement for convenience store night clerks.

American convenience stores are sometimes the target of armed robbery, colloquially called "held up at gunpoint" if a firearm is used in the robbery. It is not uncommon for clerks to work behind a bulletproof glass window, even during daylight hours. This is regarded as a common sense precaution in the United States. Still, working in a convenience store is not one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. The main dangers are that almost all convenience stores have only one person working the night shift, and that there is usually large amounts of cash and easily stolen and easily resold merchandise on the premises.

In parts of the Midwest, especially Michigan, the term "party store" is used, rather than "convenience store." (Whereas, in other places, "party store" refers to a place where one may purchase party supplies.)

The Koreans and the Blacks
After I split the US and Canada sections, I realized I left this line that was there previouslyin the Canadian section:
 * There have been ethnic tensions between Korean-American convenience store owners and African American customers,

And I added:
 * for example during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. {C'mon, the Korean shopowner was on the roof with an rifle, it was live on TV.}

And then removed it. I decided I'm not touching this. The info about US stores was just wrong before, I verbosely corrected it, somebody else can do something with that line above.

But briefly for non USians: US con-stores sell food that tastes good but is nutritively bad for you at a really high price and you usually get gas there. :)

The Canadian section could use some more information. Or combine them back together. Whatever.

Rob 11:39, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

Packies
In New England, convenience stores are colloquially refered to as "packies", short for package stores. Rob 11:51, 12 March 2006 (UTC)
 * I thought packie was a darogatory term for someone form Packistan. --Gbleem 02:45, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

I thought it was a nickname for the Green Bay Packers? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.142.205.14 (talk) 18:02, 12 December 2009 (UTC)

Cops
I added some info about the relationship between police and con-stores in the US. Rob 20:05, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

Re: cops being offered free coffee, I can attest that this is common procedure in many parts of the US. Hardly a reliable cite, I know, but this comes from talking to a wide variety of current and former night-shift convenience clerks. I dont believe this is ever an official store policy, but coffee costs the stores almost nothing, and anything they can do to encourage late-night patronage by police officers helps to reduce the risk of robberies. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.234.207.136 (talk) 23:05, 20 March 2008 (UTC)

Citation needed for cops being cool with 7-11s/convenience stores? really? try observing real life away from wikipedia for a while.. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.142.205.14 (talk) 18:04, 12 December 2009 (UTC)

Beer Sales in PA
I believe that it is factually incorrect to say beer is sold in convenience stores in Pennsylvania. To say that gives the impression that you can go into a Wawa, 7-11, AM/PM, or Uni-Mart in PA and buy beer, and you can not.

I was simply trying to illustrate that beer and alcohol sales vary by state in the United States, and I picked what I thought were easy examples. It might be better to say beer and alcohol sales vary by state, and leave it at that because everybody can easily reach consensus on that. Rob Talk 03:39, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

PA convenience stores and beer
it's weird- convenience stores in PA don't sell beer, but like, a small pizza place can. how is that so different? I guess it's in the PA law somewhere. they have chips & soda but they're not on a "small grocery store" model, so- yeah. I dunno. WalkUnseen 02:35, 27 May 2006 (UTC)


 * Places like pizza parlours or delis can sell beer because they're legally considered to be restaurants. In order to sell 6-packs to take-away they also must serve alcohol on site. (Alphaboi867 20:06, 28 May 2006 (UTC))

"Party store" merge
I put the merge template on Party store. Is there any reason to keep a seperate article? --0g 23:31, 9 August 2006 (UTC)
 * Is a convenience store that sells liquour a liquour store? The best way to handle these sorts of things is to explain the history of the different terms and how they are used in different regions. --Gbleem 02:43, 31 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I thought a party store was a store that sells paper plates that say happy birthday. --Gbleem 02:46, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

these two should be merged. --alecsputnik 12:26, 8 September 2006

I agree, party store doesn't need its own page. -- Drcwright 05:26, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

Done. :) Spilla 09:37, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Bodega
What is a bodega? --Gbleem 02:41, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

i would also like to have more info on a bodega, but don't know what to write myself. --alecsputnik 12:19, 8 September 2006

A bodega is a small grocery or convenience store located in an urban area, specifically on the east coast. Usually serves only pre-packed food and candy, and alcohol. In many urban areas there are no supermarkets, so the bodega is one of the few resources for groceries.

this sentence doesn't make any sense: ". In New York bodegas tend to carry fewer healthy foods in comparison to their neighborhood's socioeconomic level [3]." How can a number of foods be compared to a socioeconomic level? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.229.4.24 (talk) 03:20, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

bodegas are usually run by hispanics, and yes they do cater to lower income customers. they do sell some healthy stuff, so the idea that they dont is not true. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.142.205.14 (talk) 18:09, 12 December 2009 (UTC)

Tobacco Products
I find that tobacco products are nearly always available at convenience stores yet we make it seem in the article like junk food, lottery tickets, newspapers and magazines are greater staples of the convenience store than tobacco products. In my experience: lotto machines are found in some but not even most convenience stores (no Wawa lotto machines); newspapers and magazines are quite common but again I can think of a few stores which do not have them; as for junk food, some very sparse convenience stores might only have gum; but the one thing virtually every one has is cigarettes. I can't think of any stand-alone convenience store which does not sell tobacco.

Pink Dot
I removed the following POV paragraph; not being a Californian (or an American) I don't know if the store merits a mention in the article at all.

In West Hollywood, California, Angelenos are accustomed to a highly convenience/grocery store named Pink Dot. Pink Dot opened its door on the Sunset Strip in the 80s and since has become a household name for homeowners to pick up their phone and call (800) Pink Dot and order whatever they desire. From Liquor to Groceries to a one-of-a-kind deli with specialty sandwiches, Pink Dot does it all and serves most of Southern California. Whether your throwing a party in the hills or simply hungry for a bite and are too sick to get out of bed to buy medicine, Pink Dot does the delivery in about 30-45 minutes.

--Bonadea 23:45, 22 February 2007 (UTC)

Weather forecast??
"Convenience stores rely heavily on the POS system. Customers' ages, gender, as well as tomorrow's weather forecast, are important data." That's bullshit right? --BiT (talk) 07:06, 12 January 2008 (UTC)

it's true. in fact, 7-11 specifically practices tarot readings before every fountain drink sale. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.142.205.14 (talk) 18:07, 12 December 2009 (UTC)

Popular Culture
The 'in popular culture' section of this page is 100% useless and irritating and I see no reason to keep it. Thoughts? 99.153.218.40 (talk) 00:59, 15 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Tend to agree. It's a bit like having a 'in popular culture' section in the articles for gas stations, fire stations or airports. It needs either complete culling, or severe clean up. What's there now (there's a convenience store in The Simpsons! Great! )is just guff. --Lets Enjoy Life (talk) 15:08, 15 September 2008 (UTC)

Right, well, since nobody's offered any compelling argument to keep the section, I've removed it. 68.6.113.89 (talk) 18:44, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

Question
Does anyone know the name of this song? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sac-g92KC8E — Preceding unsigned comment added by Bonelayer12864 (talk • contribs) 18:40, 21 January 2011 (UTC)