A FIRST FOR 7-ELEVEN: 2 RESTAURANTS AT 1 STORE

30/04/21

CSP News

Evolution store adds Raise the Roost, Parlor Pizza as retailer plans to open nearly 150 restaurants in 2021

7-Eleven Evolution Store in Manassas, Va.Photograph courtesy of 7-Eleven

IRVING, Texas — A new 7-Eleven Evolution Store in Manassas, Va., is home to the convenience-store chain’s first location with two restaurant options in one location. The retailer plans to open close to 150 restaurants in 2021.

Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits, a restaurant that opened its first location a year ago in Manhattan, will be joined at the Manassas store by Parlor Pizza, which offers hand-tossed made-to-order pies.

One of eight experiential stores 7-Eleven operates in the United States, the Manassas Evolution Store has other features such as a wine cellar and beer cooler, fresh-baked-on-site croissants and cookies, customized espresso drinks and artisan craft sodas and sparkling waters.

“Since 7-Eleven began selling milk and bread from an ice dock in 1927, our spirit of innovation has allowed us to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of customers for over 90 years,” said 7-Eleven Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Tanco. “Today’s opportunity is in the QSR space, and we are responding by aggressively rolling out our restaurants across the country—both in Evolution Stores and beyond. Our plan is to open nearly 150 restaurants in 2021.”

Billed as “Chicken Worth Crossing the Road For,” Raise the Roost offers a simple menu of fried chicken tenders hand-breaded with southern spices, freshly baked flaky biscuits, bone-in and boneless wings tossed with “made in coop” sauces, signature chicken sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches. The in-store restaurant offers made-to-order and grab-and-go options.

Parlor features a full pizzeria menu and includes New York-style pizzas, calzones, garlic knots, pepperoni rolls and hot and cold sub sandwiches. Customers can choose baked whole pizzas or slices or select made to order 18-inch hand-tossed pizzas with ingredients including 100% whole milk mozzarella cheese. Specialty pizzas with premium ingredients are also on the menu. A conveyor-style oven ensures pizzas, calzones and other baked items are ready in minutes.

The two on-site restaurants are side by side in the store, with separate ordering counters and shared indoor and outdoor seating.

In keeping with its experiential, experimental vibe, the Manassas Evolution Store also is the first Evolution location to serve as a real-world testing ground for 7-Eleven’s Sips and Snacks emerging brands program. Customers will be able to purchase items they won’t find at many other 7-Eleven stores or retailers.

7-Eleven is No. 1 on CSP’s 2021 Top 40 update of the 2020 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.

Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven Inc. operates, franchises or licenses more than 72,800 stores in 17 countries, including more than 9,500 in the United States.