7-Eleven signs deal to open second downtown Ann Arbor convenience store
7-Eleven will open its second location in downtown Ann Arbor this spring.
The international convenience store chain just signed a deal for a 3,000-square-foot store at 704 S. Main St., officials confirmed today.
704 S. Main St., Ann Arbor.
Colliers International
Now 7-Eleven has chosen the spot for the next step in its Washtenaw County expansion, which also includes a store on South State Street that opened in late December.
The new store will serve both the campus and the nearby residential neighborhood, store officials said.
“The site is not far from the (University of Michigan) campus and close to the football stadium,” said Margaret Chabris, corporate spokeswoman, in an e-mail.
The location fits the 7-Eleven business model because it offers the potential for high-traffic business in an underserved retail area, said Jim Chaconas of Colliers International, who represented both the retailer and the building owner in the transaction.
Chaconas, whose family worked in beer wholesaling for a number of years, said he recalled high-volume beer and pop sales in the South Main Street area at now-closed stores. Today, the lack of nearby retailers and the adjacent parking for commuters should keep the new 7-Eleven busy, he said.
“There’s great visibility going south and no competition there,” Chaconas said.
The store should open in April, Chabris said.
The 7-Eleven on South State Street.
Heather Lockwood | AnnArbor.com
The space had been listed for $26 per square foot per year, according to marketing materials.
Meanwhile, the South State Street 7-Eleven store will celebrate its grand opening from 4-7 p.m. Thursday. That store is a two-level floorplan that includes an upper-level student lounge.
Chaconas said he's continuing to look for additional store locations for the chain in the area.
Paula Gardner is Business News Director of AnnArbor.com. Contact her at 734-623-2586 or by e-mail. Sign up for the weekly Business Review newsletter, distributed every Thursday, here.
Comments
SillyTree
Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 1:15 a.m.
People just want Ann Arbor to be Ann Arbor. The addition of chain stores reduces Ann Arbor's identity. Additionally, chain stores often cater to a common denominator. If we can be sure of what we are getting, we will settle for less than we might get if we take a risk. Subway and our own Domino's Pizza are major examples. They are not great and some may consider them not even good, but you know what you are getting when you order. 7/11 is predictable. It doesn't matter if other stores are better. If you come here from out of town (and new students do) you want what you know. 7/11 is it. Of course, that is naive, but what can you do? Get freshman to think? Good luck!
Corey Fellabaum
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 5:22 a.m.
There should be a 7 Eleven in the Kerrytown Area because I go to Community High and has been to the State Street 7 Eleven and it is a long walk to the State Street 7/11. I think there should be more 7/11 in Washtenaw County. It brings some jobs to the area and helps the economy. Ann Arbor should have a little more chain stores for competition and a diversity of options. Ann Arbor is a great location for new businesses to come because of how great the city is and the University of Michigan. We currently have Buffalo Wild Wings, CVS(Coming Soon), Ben and Jerry's, Wendy's, Subway, Pizza Hut Express, Taco Bell Express, Auntie Ann, Quiznos, and Panda Express in the Union, League, and Pierpont, Jimmy Johns, New York Pizza Depot, Potbelly, Chipotle, Starbucks, and BD'S Mongolian Grill are all national chain stores or restaurants. So 7 eleven is not the only National Chain Businesses. Next there will be a McDonalds.
Morgan
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 2:59 p.m.
I am just waiting for CVS to open. Much better than 7 eleven. They might even offer slurpees. ;-)
just a voice
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 3:17 a.m.
jiffy, i'm pretty sure that the image was cropped to include the state st sign, with less consideration of the other parts of the background, now get back to bartending!
MyOpinion
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 2:04 a.m.
Why do folks think the 7-11 is death for merchants? Except for being able to pay higher rents than a local business, I can't see that it is doing much business. It will pick up business between midnight and 10am, but otherwise, its foot traffic is pretty bleak It is a pretty empty store and could even save labor by just replacing all the shelving with vending machines. That might be a good business - vending machines and a few washers/dryers around the perimeter.
Ralph
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 1:16 a.m.
As far as land use is concerned, 7/Eleven is death for the State Street area.
Ann English
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 12:11 a.m.
How about a ColdStone Creamery on the west side of town, and not just north of Scio Church Road? In Village Centre off Ann Arbor-Saline Road, for instance? The name is a bit redundant for a location in Stone Plaza south of Ellsworth.
jiffy
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 11:39 p.m.
Why is it that a chain restaurant, Noodles, is also completely in the frame, and the locally owned Red Hawk Bar and Grill is almost completely out of the picture? Trying to impose that Ann Arbor is being taken over by chain stores and losing its local flavor or....?
Tom Joad
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 10:22 p.m.
I walked past the 7-11 (of course there's no way in hell I'd buy anything from it) and the store lookes to have a meager selection. How do they make their high rent on State? Cigs and beer, no doubt.
MyOpinion
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 10:09 p.m.
The 7-11 on State street is striking in how little it carries and how few aisles there are. Perhaps that is to better keep and eye on shoplifters. And, they probably know which items are in high demand and can be jacked up in price. Items like shoe laces, can openers, cans of Comet, etc. are low profit items and carried by White's Market. However, even the Diag Party store has a bigger inventory - along with throw-away cell phones.
Roy Munson
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.
What is the over/under on how many times that place gets held up during year 1? The Clark gas station across the street from there needs a break. Crime is really out of hand in this city.
John B.
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 10:47 p.m.
On average, there is about one robbery per year per convenience store in the USA, iirc. Now, some obviously get hit many times per year, while some experience zero incidents in any given year, and everything in between, but the average works out to about one. Not sure why this matters, though.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 10:13 p.m.
i don't believe you. crime doesn't happen in ann arbor.
sigdiamond
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.
Especially when you're including crime that hasn't happened yet.
treetowncartel
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.
Will Larry Flynt's magazine be available? Or is the retail chain still on the Tipper Gore/PMRC hitlist?
Roy Munson
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
Funny how this downtown area for years ran every type of franchise type business out of town because they are "evil corporations" or whatever. Now that all these mom and pop type places are going under and leaving empty buildings all over, it is now necessary to bring them and the tax revenue back.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 9:33 p.m.
how about one on the west side of ann arbor? somewhere along stadium n liberty/jackson ave corridor? i need my slurpee fix at lunch...