7-Eleven opens on South State in downtown Ann Arbor's ex-Ritz Camera building
Editor's note: This story has been changed to reflect that the new 7-Eleven store on South State Street is Ann Arbor's first 7-Eleven store in years.
Ann Arbor's first 7-Eleven store in years has opened on South State Street in downtown Ann Arbor and a second-floor lounge is to open soon.
Inside customers can find the typical array found in the convenience store chain's 32,000 other outlets: hot food, snack food and frozen food, as well as pop, juice, candy and health and beauty products. Wine and beer will be available in a few weeks. And, of course, Slurpees.
Franchisee Linda Russ said the store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Regardless of weather, holidays, "we never close," she said.
Russ said the lounge — which she envisions will have a coffee house feel — will likely open by the end of the month, pending the delivery of the furniture.
The lounge will include free WiFi and wall outlets, a flat screen TV, tables, couches and, Russ hopes, wall art to reflect the community.
Russ said area artists or art students are welcome to come into the store to discuss the possibility of having their art hung on the lounge walls. She said she is looking for art that is "school-oriented, U-of-M oriented, neighborhood-oriented."
Russ said a security system, including cameras, has been installed throughout the building and in the stairwell leading from the first-floor store to the second-floor lounge.
With many students leaving Ann Arbor for the holidays, Russ said, the store, which opened 11 a.m. Friday, got off to a slow start.
"We started off fairly slow because everyone's home (visiting family elsewhere), but today we've picked up — everyone's back from vacation," she said.
Ann Arbor's first 7-Eleven has opened on South State Street.
Heather Lockwood | AnnArbor.com
"If there's anything they don't see that they want, let us know," she said. "Whatever they want, we'll have for them."
Russ said the store is accepting applications for employment.
"Because we are 24-hours there's always something that can fit your schedule," she added.
The store opening is one of two retail openings on the block this month: Five Guys Burgers and Fries is to open across the street Jan. 17, according to a sign in its window.
The sign at the soon-to-come restaurant also indicates applications are being accepted in a box on the store front and interviews will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 8.
Heather Lockwood is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heatherlockwood@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter.
Comments
Matt Kaz
Wed, Jan 5, 2011 : 11:58 a.m.
About time Ann Arbor got a 7-Eleven! Never could understand why I had to drive all the way to Ypsi to get a Slurpee, while living in a town this size. Yay for Slurpees and Ann Arbor! cheers.
millermaple
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 10:12 a.m.
if i remember correctly, a wonderful cool local convenience store was price gouging & selling ice & candles at highly inflated prices during the big power outage of August 2003. At least big corporate 7-11 won't be following such great business practices.
wait.think
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 8:17 a.m.
The moment I heard there was a 7/11 opening, I thought we would hear from the Ann Arbor snobs! Get over it - you know who you are! Or maybe you don't, which is even worse! @Awakened: Panhandling is a huge business for the homeless in Ann Arbor. Even the homeless need a job! The addition of the 7/11 won't make things "worse", just spread it out over 24 hours! @JeffK - good point about franchises v. corporations, but most people truly do not understand what a franchise is - usually local people bringing in a well recognized name. Even most McDonald's are locally owned. I think we should support any business that attempts to open in Ann Arbor, especially during this economic climate. Rumor has it is that Linda Russ has been working on getting this store open for seven years, which shows great dedication to wanting to do business in Ann Arbor. Most people would have given up long before that! I think that means she plans to stick around! As far as the sign - It is what is has to be - franchise requirements meeting Ann Arbor sign ordinances. Brand recognition is a huge marketing tool - everyone needs a logo! I wish you well, Linda Russ! Thank you for providing job opportunities in the area!
Awakened
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 5:30 a.m.
This will be a GREAT spot to panhandle!
Carl
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 1:42 a.m.
Yes because Diag party store is so classy... If anything they made it look alot better than they could have, the sign seems small. Students need a place like this.
JeffK
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 12:01 a.m.
I have to disagree with @Sallyxyz "Adding yet another chain store to State Street continues to cheapen the campus area retail landscape." I worked at the Ritz Camera store at this location in 1988. It was corporate owned. Our paychecks came from Beltsville, MD. Rather than adding a "chain" store, I'd say that State Street traded an east coast absentee owner for a local franchisee.
David Briegel
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 11:11 p.m.
John B. Thanks, I meant to say downtown. Watchman, I remember that 7-11 when I lived on that side of town for a couple years.
Sallyxyz
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
UtrespassM: I think the drug store (and lower level optometry shop) went out of business on State Street a few years ago (I can't remember the name), very sad. Or maybe they relocated. I agree that a wider range of retail is needed on State Street, not more chains selling junk and fast food. Unfortunately, the landlords are part of the problem. With excessively high rents, few small retail operations can survive unless they are very high profit operations, i.e., chains and fast food, bars, restaurants, etc. This issue has been discussed in past years regarding Main Street and the loss of diverse retail establishments and the high number of bars and restaurants on Main St due to high rents. Only high profit places can survive this kind of greed on the part of landlords. There has also been a lot of retail turnover on State and William in recent years. Let's hope Borders doesn't close their downtown store.
psaume23
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.
Next thing: a McDonald's on Maynard Street. Wait! That was already done, circa 1970's (and even though it was set back from the road and did not look like the typical McDonald's, not everybody was happy about it). With this 7-11, at least change the sign.
UtrespassM
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 7:27 p.m.
A small drug store would be better.
The Watchman
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 6:46 p.m.
This is not Ann Arbor's first 7-11. There was one a number of years ago on Maiden Lane by the hospital complex.
ShadowManager
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 6:34 p.m.
Hmm. I don't remember this "lounge" idea being floated when this was originally proposed. I'm sure the many coffee shops in that area, some of them not chains, really appreciate 7-11 directly competiting with them now.
ferdcom
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 6:25 p.m.
Somewhat concerned ---- I totally agree with you. I will no longer be able to sneer at my grubby relatives who live in podunk towns like Boston and San Francisco. I am now no better than they are. Wah, Wah, Wah.
Sallyxyz
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 6:14 p.m.
Adding yet another chain store to State Street continues to cheapen the campus area retail landscape. Very tacky sign, and regardless of adding a second story lounge, it is still a tacky convenience store selling a lot of junk food. There is also the potential for more crime in the area, as 7-11's are robbed frequently, due to being open all night with few staff working. I hope they have good video surveillance in the store. Not the kind of retail that will create a positive image for the area.
John B.
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
P.S. Make that 'at the corner of Packard and Stadium.' Been here over a quarter of a century and still get it confused....
John B.
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
DB: We already have a Circle-K.... It's at the corner of Packard and Washtenaw, and has been there for a couple (three or four, maybe?) years. Beware of Circle-Ks, though. They multiply like mice. Last time I was in Tulsa, it seemed like there was one every third block!
johnnya2
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
@Somewhat Concerned And if that C-Store down the street does a better job than 7-11, it will stay in business. Funny how that works. By the way, despite all the hand wringing of "corporate" places, why not investigate who actually OWNS the store. Where is the rent going to be paid to? WHO is it going to employ? Where will they buy their products from? I'd rather go to a 7-11 than some place that reeks to high hell of hookah smoke or makes up their own rules regarding REQUIRING me to spend a specific amount to use my credit card. I'd also check to see what the hours of the two places are. I am betting the other one is not 24 hours. I guess the old store learns to give their customers something equal or better to 7-11 or they can close their doors. Hmmm, that is what the auto industry was told in the 1980's yet they still didn't listen. You must have been one of their "smart" executives.
David Briegel
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 5:46 p.m.
MjC, Did they bring a new football coach? Ann Arbor has now arrived. We are somebody!! Now, we need a CircleK!! Slluuuuurrrppp!!!
MjC
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.
Slurpees for everyone and let's go blue!
Somewhat Concerned
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 5:30 p.m.
Now we have a gaudy, ugly 7-11, just like every dumpy or podunk town in the country. It adds nothing to the retail landscape (other than ugliness) - there is a convenience store down near Jimmy John's that carries more items than a typical 7-11.
jgtrueblue
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 4:51 p.m.
A 7-11 on State Street. Disgusting. Losing Village Corners on the other side of campus was sad enough. This is just disrespectful.
mr_annarbor
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 4:09 p.m.
The signage is a little out of place, but it will be good to have a place like that down there were you can buy the things that 7-11 sells.
Marc
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 3:56 p.m.
I double took, u-turned, and had to go inside to make sure it was real. This is the most out of place looking business in the area.