Major Convenience Store Plans Mass Closures: What It Could Mean For IL Stores

The parent company of 7-Eleven plans to close 645 convenience stores across North America, potentially including some in Illinois, in 2026 as part of a broader effort to streamline operations and revamp its business model.

Japan-based Seven & I Holdings disclosed the planned closures in a recent earnings report.

There are more than 400 7-Eleven stores throughout Illinois, with the majority of these in and around Chicago. There are also several 7-Eleven locations in Chicago's western suburbs and more scattered throughout central Illinois.

The company did not disclose what stores would be closed, but said some will be converted into wholesale fuel sites, which are not counted among its traditional convenience stores.

Despite the closures, 7-Eleven expects to open more than 200 new stores during the same period, signaling a continued push to reshape its footprint rather than shrink outright.

The move follows several years in which the chain has closed more stores than it has opened, reflecting efforts to cut underperforming locations and invest in larger, food-focused formats aimed at boosting sales.

The closures come as the company prepares for a delayed initial public offering of its North American business and adapts to shifting consumer habits, including declining demand for traditional convenience-store items.

By early 2027, the company’s North American store count is expected to decline from more than 13,000 locations in 2024 to about 12,272.