A convenience store is a small store or shop. They are often located alongside busy roads, or at gas/petrol stations. A filling station, fueling station, gas station, service station, petrol station, or gasbar, Retail Outlet This can take the form of gas stations supplementing their income with retail outlets, or convenience stores adding gas to the list of goods that they offer. Railway stations also often have convenience stores. |}A train station, railway station, railroad station, or station yard is a facility at which Passengers may board and alight from Trains They are also frequently located in densely-populated urban neighborhoods.

Convenience store in Tokyo, Japan

Goods on offer

Sometimes abbreviated to c-store, various types exist, for example: liquor stores (off-licences – offies), mini-markets (mini-marts) or party stores. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. A liquor store dore is the American and Canadian name for a type of Convenience store which specializes in the sale of Alcoholic beverages in REDIRECT Licensing_laws_of_the_United_Kingdom#Off-licence Typically junk food (candy, ice-cream, soft drinks), lottery tickets, newspapers and magazines are sold. Junk food is a broad term that is used to describe a variety of Food products from Sweets that contain little to no Nutritional value to products used in Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water to which a variety of flavorings and colorants is added Ice cream or ice-cream (originally iced cream) is a frozen dessert made from Dairy products such as Milk and Cream, combined Soft drink is a beverage that does not contain Alcohol. Carbonated soft drinks are commonly known as soda soda pop pop, or A lottery is a form of Gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. Magazines, periodicals or serials are Publications generally published on a regular schedule containing a variety of articles, generally Unless the outlet is a liquor store, the range of alcohol beverages is likely to be limited (i. e. beer and wine) or non-existent. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Most stores carry cigarettes and other tobacco products. A cigarette ( French "small Cigar " from cigar + -ette) is a product consumed through Smoking and manufactured Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. Varying degrees of food and grocery supplies are usually available, from household products, to prepackaged foods like sandwiches and frozen burritos. A grocery store is a store established primarily for the Retailing of Food. Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an A sandwich is a food item made of two or more slices of Bread with one or more layers of a filling A burrito or taco de harina is a type of food found in Mexican and Mexican-American cuisine Automobile-related items such as motor oil, maps and car kits may be sold. A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, Regions, and Themes Often toiletries and other hygiene products are stocked, as well as feminine hygiene and contraception. Birth control, sometimes synonymous with contraception, is a regimen of one or more actions devices or Medications followed in order to deliberately prevent Some of these stores also offer money orders and wire transfer services. A money order is a Payment order for a pre-specified amount of Money. Wire transfer is a method of transferring money from one entity to another

The most common type of foods offered in convenience stores are breakfast sandwiches and other breakfast food. A breakfast sandwich is a Sandwich served for Breakfast at American Fast food restaurants Breakfast is the first meal of the day The word derives from the idea of break ing the '''fast''' of sleep Throughout Europe convenience stores now sell fresh French bread (or similar). Bread is a Staple food prepared by Baking a Dough of Flour and Water. A process of freezing part-baked bread allows easy shipment (often from France) and baking in-store. Some stores have a delicatessen counter, offering custom-made sandwiches and baguettes. A baguette (bəˈɡɛt is a variety of Bread distinguishable by its length very crispy crust and slits cut into it to enable proper expansion Some stores have racks offering fresh delivered or baked doughnuts from local doughnut shops. A doughnut (also spelled "donut" is a sweet Deep-fried piece of Dough or batter. Some stores have a self-service microwave oven for heating purchased food – in Hong Kong, convenience stores even provide lunch and dinner. A microwave oven, or a microwave, is a Kitchen appliance that cooks or heats Food by Dielectric heating.

In the USA, some fast food chains like Chick-fil-a offer a counter in convenience stores. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly Chick-fil-A (pronounced) is a Restaurant chain headquartered in Atlanta Georgia, that specializes in chicken Entrees It is the second-biggest Instead of cooking food in the store, these counters offer a limited menu of items delivered several times a day from a local branch of the restaurant.

Convenience stores may be combined with other services, such as a train station ticket counter or a post office counter,petrol pump. A post office is a facility authorized by a Postal system for the posting receipt sorting handling transmission or delivery of Mail.

Differences from supermarkets

Although larger, newer convenience stores have quite a broad range of items, the selection is still limited compared to supermarkets, and in many stores only 1 or 2 choices are available.

Prices in a convenience store are typically higher than at a supermarket, mass merchandise store, or auto supply store (with the exception of the goods such as milk, soda and fuel in which convenience stores traditionally do high volume and sometimes use as loss leaders). Customer divider barjpg|thumb|In supermarkets sellers periodically change prices for classes of goods in response to market conditions rather than negotiating the price of each good A loss leader or leader (also called a key value item in the United Kingdom is a product sold at a low price (at cost or below cost to stimulate other profitable

In the United States, the stores will sometimes be the only stores and services near an interstate highway exit where drivers can buy any kind of food or drink for miles. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Dwight D Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System (or simply the Interstate System) Most of the profit margin from these stores comes from beer, liquor, and cigarettes. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea A cigarette ( French "small Cigar " from cigar + -ette) is a product consumed through Smoking and manufactured Although those three categories themselves usually yield lower margins per item, the amount of sales in these categories generally makes up for it. Profits per item are much higher on deli items (bags of ice, chicken, etc), but sales are generally lower.

In some countries most convenience stores have longer shopping hours, some being open 24 hours. Customs and regulations for shopping hours (times that shops are open vary from country to country

Convenience stores by country

Convenience stores in Canada

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., which operates Couche-Tard, Provi-Soir, Dépanneur 7, Mac's Convenience Stores and Beckers Milk, is the largest convenience store chain in Canada. Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc ( ("Couche-Tard" means "goes to bed late" in French) is the largest Canadian Convenience store retailer operating Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc ( ("Couche-Tard" means "goes to bed late" in French) is the largest Canadian Convenience store retailer operating Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc ( ("Couche-Tard" means "goes to bed late" in French) is the largest Canadian Convenience store retailer operating Mac's is a franchised chain of Convenience stores that operate in Ontario and Western Canada. Becker's, also known as Becker's Milk, was a franchised chain of Convenience stores in Ontario, Canada owned by Becker Milk Co Another large chain is Quickie Mart, which predates the "Kwik-E-Mart" featured on The Simpsons.

The world's largest convenience retailer, 7-Eleven, has about 500 locations from BC to Ontario. 7-Eleven is a worldwide chain of Convenience stores It is since March 2007 the largest chain store in any category beating McDonald's by 1000 stores British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Worldwide, the highest number of the chain's famous Slurpee beverages are sold in Winnipeg, Manitoba; the city is known as the "Slurpee Capital of the World". Worldwide consumption 7-Eleven stores are a franchise, and Slurpees are offered in many but not all covered countries Winnipeg (ˈwɪnɨpɛg is the capital and largest city in the Canadian province of Manitoba, and 7th largest municipality in Canada with a population Manitoba (English ˌmænɨˈtoʊbə French /manitoba/ is a province of Canada, spanning 647797 square kilometres (250116  sq mi of North America

Marketing itself as "more than just a convenience store," there are over 150 Hasty Market locations throughout Ontario.

Convenience stores are also commonly referred to as "corner stores" or "variety stores" in some regions of Canada. In the mostly French-speaking province of Quebec, a convenience store is known as a "dépanneur," or "dep" for short[1]. Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk A dépanneur (from the French verb dépanner, meaning "to help out of difficulty" or "troubleshoot" often shortened to " dep "Dépanneur" means literally "one who gets you out of a jam".

Convenience stores in Japan

Lawson Terauchicho 1Chome Shop （Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan）

Although originated in the United States, convenience stores developed tremendously in Japan. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. 7-Eleven Japan, while struggling to localize their service in the 1970s to 1980s, evolved its POS-based business. 7-Eleven is a worldwide chain of Convenience stores It is since March 2007 the largest chain store in any category beating McDonald's by 1000 stores This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Point of sale or point of service ( POS or PoS) can mean a retail shop, a checkout counter in a shop or the location where a transaction Ultimately, Seven & I Holdings Co., the parent company of 7-Eleven Japan, acquired 7-Eleven (US) from Southland Corporation in 1991. is a diversified Retail group headquarterd in Tokyo, Japan. Founded originally in 1920 as Ito Yokado, Seven & I is now the fifth largest retailer 7-Eleven is a worldwide chain of Convenience stores It is since March 2007 the largest chain store in any category beating McDonald's by 1000 stores Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Japanese-styled convenience stores called konbini (ja:コンビニ) also heavily influenced those stores in other Asian nations, such as Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and China. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

Convenience stores rely heavily on the POS system. Point of sale or point of service ( POS or PoS) can mean a retail shop, a checkout counter in a shop or the location where a transaction Customers' ages, gender, as well as tomorrow's weather forecast, are important data. All orders are made on-line. As their store sizes are limited, they have to be very careful in choosing what brands to sell.

In many cases, several same-chained stores exist in neighboring areas. This strategy, called dominant, makes distribution to each store cheaper. (ja:ドミナント政策) It also makes multiple distributions per a day possible. Generally, foods are delivered to each store two to five times a day from factories. Since products are delivered as needed, stores do not need large stock areas.

As of 2005, there were 43,667 convenience stores in Japan. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [2] Among them, 7-Eleven leads the market with 11,310 stores, followed by Lawson and FamilyMart. Lawson ( is a convenience store franchise chain in Japan. The store originated in the U is a "konbini" or Convenience store franchise chain first opened in Japan on September 1, 1981.

Most items available in larger supermarkets can be found in Japanese convenience stores. In addition, the following additional services are also commonly available:

• Courier, or postal service. A courier is a Person or company employed to deliver Messages packages and Mail. Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also
• Photocopying, or fax service. A photocopier (or copier is a machine that makes Paper copies of documents and other visual images quickly and cheaply Fax (short for facsimile, from Latin fac simile, "make similar" i
• ATMs.
• Utilities and other bills and tax payment service.
• Tickets service for concerts, theme parks, airlines etc

Some stores also sell:

• Charging service for electronic money. A concert is a live Performance, usually of Music, before an Audience. Theme park is the generic term for a collection of rides and other Entertainment attractions assembled for the purpose of entertaining a large group An airline provides air transport services for Passengers or Freight, generally with a recognized operating certificate or license Electronic money (also known as e-money, electronic cash, electronic currency, digital money, digital cash or digital currency
• ATM services for credit card or consumer finance. A credit card is part of a system of Payments named after the small Plastic card issued to users of the system Consumer finance in the most basic sense of the word refers to any kind of lending to consumers

Items not commonly sold include:

• Slurpees, Lottery tickets, Car supplies, and Gasoline. Worldwide consumption 7-Eleven stores are a franchise, and Slurpees are offered in many but not all covered countries A lottery is a form of Gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize

Convenience stores in Singapore

See also: Mama shop

Major convenience stores in Singapore are 7-Eleven owned by Dairy Farm International Holdings and Cheers owned by NTUC Fairprice. Mama Shops (from Tamil மாமா meaning uncle or elder) are convenience stores in Singapore that are located under high-rise apartment Singapore 7-Eleven is a worldwide chain of Convenience stores It is since March 2007 the largest chain store in any category beating McDonald's by 1000 stores NTUC FairPrice Co-Operative ( Chinese: 新加坡职工总会平价合作社 is a Supermarket chain based in Singapore and the largest in the country ^[1] Figures from the Singapore Department of Statistics showed that there are 338 7-Eleven stores and 91 Cheers outlets in 2004. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " ^[2] Other convenience stores such as Myshop and One Plus appeared in 1983. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Myshop belongs to a Japanese company, and One Plus belongs to Emporium Holdings. This is a list of companies from or based in Japan. Note that 株式会社 can be (and frequently is read both Kabushiki kaisha and ^[3]

Various reasons unique to Singapore have been given for the great popularity of convenience stores there. Convenience stores sell a wide range of imported goods, whereas minimarts and provision shops sell local products with a limited range of non-Asian products. ^[4] Convenience stores are situated within housing estates thus reducing consumers’ traveling time. A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development Consumers refers to individuals or households that use goods and services generated within the economy. Most families in Singapore are dual-income families. Family denotes a group of People affiliated by consanguinity affinity or co-residence ^[5] Since both the husband and wife are working, there is greater need for convenience in shopping for daily necessities. Convenience is anything that is intended to save Time, Energy or Frustration. Shopping is the examining of Goods or services from Retailers with intent to purchase at that time The 24 hour opening policy allows convenience stores to reach out to a larger group of consumers. Firstly, the policy caters to the shopping needs of consumers who work shifts or have irregular working hours. Shopping is the examining of Goods or services from Retailers with intent to purchase at that time ^[6] Secondly, the policy caters to the increasing number of Singaporeans who are keeping late nights. It was reported that 54% of Singaporeans stayed up past midnight in an economic review by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) in 2005. Singapore Midnight is literally "the middle of the night" In most systems it is when one day ends and the next begins when the date changes PricewaterhouseCoopers (or PwC is one of the world's largest Professional services firms Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[7]

7-Eleven

7-Eleven Under A Block of Flats

7-Eleven began the trend of convenience stores in Singapore when it opened its first store in 1982 by Jardine Matheson Group, under a franchise agreement with Southland Corporation of the United States. A convenience store is a small store or shop. They are often located alongside busy roads or at gas/petrol stations. Singapore Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (,) often called Jardines or Jardine's (怡和 is a Multinational corporation that is incorporated in The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[8] Dairy Farm International Holdings acquired the chain from Jardine Matheson Group in 1989. Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (,) often called Jardines or Jardine's (怡和 is a Multinational corporation that is incorporated in Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) ^[9]

The number of 7-Eleven outlets continued to increase in 1984 while other chains were having difficulty in expanding. Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) One Plus was unable to expand due to the shortage of good sites. The original owners of the Myshop franchise, which had seven outlets, sold out to one of its suppliers due to a lack of demand. A supply chain or logistics network is the system of organizations people technology activities information and resources involved in moving a product or service from ^[10]

However, in 1985, 7-Eleven faced difficulty in finding favourable locations and failed to meet its one-store-a-month target. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) The situation improved in 1986 with a new Housing Development Board (HDB) tendering system, which allowed 7-Eleven to secure shops without having to bid too high a price. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The Housing and Development Board ( Abbreviation: HDB; Simplified Chinese: 建屋发展局 Malay: Lembaga Pembangunan dan Perumahan 7-Eleven is a worldwide chain of Convenience stores It is since March 2007 the largest chain store in any category beating McDonald's by 1000 stores ^[11]

7-Eleven stores are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, including Sundays and public holidays. A week (also called sennight or sevennight) is a unit of Time longer than a Day and shorter than a Month. Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of ^[12] This 24/7 policy was seen as the reason that gave 7-Eleven its edge over its competitors.

In 1990, there was a rise in the number of shop thefts in 7-Eleven. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) The shoplifters were usually teenagers who stole small items such as chocolates, cigarettes and beer. Shoplifting (also known as retail theft, or shrinkage within the retail industry is Theft of goods from a Retail establishment by an ostensible Chocolate ( pronounced or /-ˈələt/ comprises a number of raw and processed foods that are produced from the seed of the tropical Cacao tree A cigarette ( French "small Cigar " from cigar + -ette) is a product consumed through Smoking and manufactured Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea ^[13] In response to the increase in the number of thefts, 7-Eleven stepped up security measures, which successfully lowered the crime rate by 60%^[14]

Cheers

Notice Pasted at Cheers to deter shoplifters

Cheers is owned by local corporation NTUC Fairprice, started in 1999. NTUC FairPrice Co-Operative ( Chinese: 新加坡职工总会平价合作社 is a Supermarket chain based in Singapore and the largest in the country Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) ^[15] Cheers has adopted 7-Eleven’s 24/7 model and took similar security measures to prevent cases of shop lifting. 7-Eleven is a worldwide chain of Convenience stores It is since March 2007 the largest chain store in any category beating McDonald's by 1000 stores 24/7 is an Abbreviation which stands for "24 hours a day 7 days a week" usually referring to business opening hours or the availability of a service Shoplifting (also known as retail theft, or shrinkage within the retail industry is Theft of goods from a Retail establishment by an ostensible Convenience store owners seeking franchising seem to prefer Cheers over 7-Eleven, probably due to its cheaper franchise fee. Franchising refers to the methods of practicing and using another person's Philosophy of business. ^[16]

Convenience stores in Taiwan

With the highest 7-Eleven outlet density in the world, it is not an unusual scene seeing two 7-Eleven shops stand face to face in a same intersection in Taiwan. 7-Eleven is a worldwide chain of Convenience stores It is since March 2007 the largest chain store in any category beating McDonald's by 1000 stores Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. The distance between them might be less than 50 meters.

Boasting more than 9,100 convenience stores in an area of 35,980 km² and a population of 23 million, Taiwan has Asia Pacific’s and perhaps the world’s highest density of convenience stores per person: one store per 2,500 people or . Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. Asia-Pacific or APAC is the area generally regarded as encompassing Littoral East Asia, Southeast Asia and Australasia near the 000397 stores per person (convenience store - Wikipedia, October 2007). With 4,665 7-Eleven stores, Taiwan also has the world’s highest density of 7-Elevens per person: one store per 4,930 people or . 000203 stores per person (International Licensing page of 7-Eleven website). In Taipei, it is not unusual to see two 7-Elevens across the street or several of them within a few hundreds of meters of each other. Taipei ( Taiwanese Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-pak-chhī Jhuyin Fuhao: ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄕˋ Hakka: Thòi-pet-sṳ has been the capital of

Because they are found everywhere, convenience stores in Taiwan provide services on behalf of financial institutions or government agencies such as collection of city parking fees, utility bills, traffic violation fines, and credit card payments. Eighty percent of urban household shoppers in Taiwan visit a convenience store each week (2005 ACNielsen ShopperTrends).

United States

The first chain convenience store in the United States was opened in Dallas, Texas in 1927 by the Southland Ice Company, which eventually became 7-Eleven. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 7-Eleven is a worldwide chain of Convenience stores It is since March 2007 the largest chain store in any category beating McDonald's by 1000 stores Since that time many different convenience store brands have developed, and their stores may either be corporate-owned or franchises. A brand is a collection of Images and ideas representing an economic producer more specifically it refers to the descriptive verbal attributes and concrete symbols such as a A corporation is a separate legal entity usually used to conduct business Franchising refers to the methods of practicing and using another person's Philosophy of business. The items offered for sale tend to be similar despite store brand, and almost always include milk, bread, soft drinks, cigarettes, phone cards, coffee, slushees, candy bars, Twinkies, Slim Jims, hot dogs, ice cream, candy, gum, chips, pretzels, popcorn, beef jerky, doughnuts, maps, magazines, newspapers, small toys, car supplies, feminine hygiene products, cat food, dog food, and toilet paper. Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. Bread is a Staple food prepared by Baking a Dough of Flour and Water. Soft drink is a beverage that does not contain Alcohol. Carbonated soft drinks are commonly known as soda soda pop pop, or A cigarette ( French "small Cigar " from cigar + -ette) is a product consumed through Smoking and manufactured A telephone card, calling card or phone card for short is a small card usually resembling a Credit card, used to pay for Telephone services CoFFEE is an Open source Software for computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL in a digital classroom Slush is a blend of water flavored syrup and ice Popular slush beverage flavors include strawberry blue raspberry creme soda grape cherry and lemon-lime A Twinkie is a "Golden Sponge Cake with Creamy Filling" popular in North America Slim Jim is a brand of dry meat snack manufactured by ConAgra Foods Inc A hot dog is a type of fully-cooked cured and/or smoked moist Sausage of soft even texture and flavor Ice cream or ice-cream (originally iced cream) is a frozen dessert made from Dairy products such as Milk and Cream, combined Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water to which a variety of flavorings and colorants is added For songs called "Chewing Gum" see Chewing Gum (song Chewing gum is a type of Confectionery traditionally made of Chicle A pretzel is a bread pastry of German origin that has the shape of a three looped Knot or twisted braid Popcorn or popping corn is a type of corn which explodes from the kernel and puffs up when heated Jerky is Meat that has been cut into strips trimmed of fat Marinated in a spicy salty or sweet liquid and then dried with low heat (usually under 70°C/160°F A doughnut (also spelled "donut" is a sweet Deep-fried piece of Dough or batter. A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, Regions, and Themes Magazines, periodicals or serials are Publications generally published on a regular schedule containing a variety of articles, generally A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. This article is about playthings For other uses of the term see Toy (disambiguation. Feminine hygiene is a general term used to describe Personal care products used by women during Menstruation, Vaginal discharge, and other bodily functions Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of Cats Although cats are obligate carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal Dog food is Plant or Animal material intended for consumption by Dogs or other canines Special types of dog food given as a reward and not as Toilet paper is a soft paper product used to maintain Personal hygiene after human Defecation or Urination. Other less common items include sandwiches, pizza, and frozen foods. A sandwich is a food item made of two or more slices of Bread with one or more layers of a filling Pizza (ˈpiːtsə, in Italian:) is a popular dish made with an Oven -baked flat generally round Bread that is covered with tomatoes or a tomato-based Frozen food is food preserved by the process of Freezing. Freezing food is a common method of Food preservation which slows both food decay and by Nearly all convenience stores also have an automated teller machine (ATM), though other banking services are usually not available. State lottery tickets are also available at these stores.

Some convenience stores in the United States also sell gasoline. Policies regarding the sale of adult magazines vary, but generally larger chains (such as 7-Eleven and Casey's General Stores) do not sell these items, while smaller independent stores may do so. Pornographic magazines, sometimes known as adult magazines, sex magazines, top-shelf magazines, blue books, or stick mags are One notable exception to this "rule" is fast-growing regional chain Sheetz, which does sell some soft-core pornographic material such as Playboy (including its various "special" issues), Penthouse, and Playgirl. Sheetz Inc is a chain of Gas stations Convenience stores owned by the Sheetz family Softcore (or soft porn) is a form of Pornography, either video or nude Glamour photography, that is less explicit than hardcore material Playboy is an American Men's magazine, founded in Chicago Illinois, by Hugh Hefner and his associates which has grown into Playboy Penthouse, a Men 's Magazine founded by Bob Guccione, combines urban lifestyle articles and Soft-core pornographic pictorials Playgirl is also a song by Ladytron, PLAYGIRL is a monthly pornographic women's lifestyle Magazine published in the United States

Because the laws regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages vary from state to state in the United States, the availability of beer, wine, and liquor varies greatly. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice For example, while convenience stores in Alaska, Pennsylvania and New Jersey cannot sell any kind of alcohol at all, stores in Nevada and California may sell alcoholic beverages of any sort, while stores in Virginia, Washington, or Oregon can sell beer and wine, but not liquor. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Similar to grocery stores, convenience stores in New York can sell beer only, not wine or liquor. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Sheetz, which is based in Altoona, Pennsylvania and specializes in "Made-To-Order" (MTO) foods that are generally higher-quality than normally seen in a convenience store, tried to find a loophole in 2007 by classifying part of one of their prototype stores in Altoona as a restaurant, which would permit alcohol sales. Sheetz Inc is a chain of Gas stations Convenience stores owned by the Sheetz family Altoona is a city in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States. A loophole is a weakness or exception that allows a system such as a Law or Security, to be circumvented or otherwise avoided A restaurant is a retail establishment that serves prepared Food to Customers. ^[17] However, state courts in Pennsylvania promptly overruled this. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern ^[18] Sheetz continues to sell alcohol in other states.

American convenience stores are often a direct target of armed robbery. Robbery is the Crime of seizing Property through Violence or Intimidation. In some areas of the United States, it is not uncommon for clerks to work behind a bulletproof glass window, even during daylight hours. Bulletproof glass is a colloquial term for Glass that is particularly resistant to being penetrated when struck by Bullets Since manufacturing glass of usable The main dangers are that almost all convenience stores have only one person working the night shift, most of the transactions are in cash, and easily resold merchandise, such as liquor, lottery tickets and cigarettes are on the premises. A lottery is a form of Gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize A cigarette ( French "small Cigar " from cigar + -ette) is a product consumed through Smoking and manufactured Most convenience stores have a cash drop slot into a time-delay safe so clerks may limit the amount of cash on hand. A safe (also called strongbox, coffer or kist) is a secure lockable box used for securing valuable objects against Theft or damage Many have installed security cameras to help prevent robberies and shoplifting. Closed-circuit television ( CCTV) is the use of Video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place limited set of monitors Shoplifting (also known as retail theft, or shrinkage within the retail industry is Theft of goods from a Retail establishment by an ostensible

Because of their vulnerability to crime, nearly all convenience stores have a friendly relationship with the local police. Police are agents or agencies usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimatized use of force Some even provide a small police substation in the store, and traditionally provide free coffee to police officers. A police officer (also known as a policeman or policewoman) is a warranted employee of a Police force. Police officers often patrol the parking lot of a convenience store, especially after the closing time of bars to apprehend drunk drivers. Parking lot (called a car park in Australia and the UK) is a cleared area that is more or less level and is intended for Parking vehicles Drunkenness or inebriation is the state of being intoxicated by consumption of Alcoholic beverages to a degree that mental and physical faculties are noticeably

Regional names

Regional differences in terms exist.

In certain parts of the Midwest, especially Michigan, locals prefer to use the term party store or corner store. Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. The term party store is said to come from post prohibition times when you could buy liquor or beer again, hence to throw a party.

In New York City, independent convenience stores are almost always referred to as Deli

In New England, a number of regional terms are used to refer to small, independent convenience stores. The City of New York History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the In Northern New England (e. g. Maine, New Hampshire), some convenience stores bear the name "superette. " In the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the term "variety store" is often used. The Merrimack Valley is the area surrounding the Merrimack River in northeastern Massachusetts. A Massachusetts-specific term (found most often in the Boston area) for a small convenience store is "spa", though this term has become less common in recent years.

In the San Antonio region of Texas, a convenience store is commonly referred to as an "icehouse. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. "

Similar concepts

Convenience stores to some extent replaced the old-fashioned general store. "Corner shop" redirects here For the British band see Cornershop. They are similar but not identical to Australian milk bars. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Milk bar is a term in some parts of Australia for Suburban local shops or General stores They are known as Delicatessens or delis in In Britain, corner shops in towns and village shops in the countryside served similar purposes and were the precursors to the modern European convenience store (e. g. SPAR). In Sailing, a spar is also know as a round pole of wood or Metal used on a Sailing ship. In the Canadian province of Quebec, dépanneurs are often family-owned neighbourhood shops that serve similar purposes. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk A dépanneur (from the French verb dépanner, meaning "to help out of difficulty" or "troubleshoot" often shortened to " dep

Truck stops, also known as "travel centers" combine a shop offering similar goods to a convenience store with amenities for professional drivers of Semi-trailer trucks. A truck stop is a commercial facility that provides fuel parking and usually food and other services to long-haul trucks A truck driver (Commonly called a trucker, driver or Teamster in the United States and Canada, a truckie or truckcartransporterarp750pixjpg|thumb|right|A tractor with an auto-transport Semi-trailer. This may include fast food restaurants, showers and facilities for buying large quantities of diesel fuel. Diesel or Diesel fuel (ˈdiːzəl in general is any Fuel used in Diesel engines The most common is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum The equivalent in Europe is the motorway service center.

Neighborhood grocery stores not big enough to be considered a supermarket often compete with convenience stores. For example, in Los Angeles, CA, a local chain operates neighborhood grocery stores that fill a niche between a traditional supermarket and convenience store. Because they stock fresh fruit and fresh meat and carry upwards of 5000 items, they have a lot in common with the supermarket. Due to the relatively small store size, customers can get in and out conveniently, or have purchases delivered.

Convenience stores in popular culture

A Quick Stop convenience store in Leonardo, New Jersey was the primary setting for the movie Clerks. Leonardo is a Census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Clerks is a 1994 film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film in a minor role Another film centered around convenience stores is Michael Winterbottom's Butterfly Kiss (1995), with a powerful performance by Amanda Plummer as a demented killer of convenience store clerks. Michael Winterbottom (b March 29 1961 in Blackburn, Lancashire) is a prolific British Filmmaker who has directed fifteen Butterfly Kiss is a 1995 British film directed by Michael Winterbottom and written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Amanda Michael Plummer (born March 23, 1957) is an American award-winning Actress.

The eponymous characters of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) first meet their time-travel guide, Rufus, while hanging out in front of a convenience store, with Ted memorably declaring that "strange things are afoot at the Circle-K. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure ( 1989) is an American comedy / Science fiction Movie in which two Slackers Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) This article details time travel itself For other uses see Time Traveler. "

In George Sluizer's The Vanishing (1988), remade in 1993, a woman is abducted at a roadside convenience store while her husband waits outside in the parking lot. George Sluizer (born June 25, 1932 in Paris) of Dutch and Norwegian parents The Vanishing ( Dutch: Spoorloos) is a French / Netherlands film adaptation of the novel The Golden Egg Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar)

Apu, a character in The Simpsons, runs the local Kwik-E-Mart. Role in The Simpsons The Kwik-E-Mart is a convenience store that sells the usual fare at extraordinarily high prices including the always popular Squishee This lampoons (or some might say perpetuates) the American stereotype that most convenience store workers are immigrants of Middle-Eastern or South Asian extraction. A stereotype (from Greek: stereo + týpos = "solid impression" is a generalized perception of first impressions behaviors presumed by a group

In Dennis Etchison's horror short story, "The Late Shift" (originally in Kirby McCauley's anthology Dark Forces, 1980, and excerpted here), the undead work nights at the Stop 'N Start Market and other convenience stores. Dennis William Etchison (born March 30, 1943 in Stockton California) is an American Writer and editor of Fantasy

In Twin Peaks, and its prequel movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me the characters BOB and Mike are said to "live above a convenience store". Twin Peaks is a Television Serial drama that follows the investigation of the brutal murder of popular respected Teenager and homecoming queen Twin Peaks Fire Walk with Me (sometimes referred to as Fire Walk with Me, or internationally Twin Peaks The Movie) is a 1992 movie

The Paul Simon Song, Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes, has the line 'She said, honey, take me dancing/but they ended up by sleeping in a doorway/by the bodegas and the lights on upper broadway. Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13 1941 is an American Songwriter, Musician, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. . .

The fictional "Lucky Dragon" convenience store chain figures prominently in William Gibson's The Bridge trilogy. William Ford Gibson (born March 17 1948 is an American - Canadian writer who has been called the "noir prophet" of the Cyberpunk subgenre The Bridge trilogy is a series of novels by William Gibson, his second after the successful Sprawl trilogy.

In the film "Half Baked" they spoof bodegas saying they only stock old items as its a front to sell weed.

Many British TV shows feature the changing fortunes of small shops of this sort, more often known in the British Isles as the corner shop in towns or the village shop in the countryside. Examples include the BBC comedy show Open All Hours, soap operas such as Coronation Street even the BBC Radio 4 soap opera, The Archers. Open All Hours was a BBC Sitcom written by Roy Clarke which ran for four series (26 episodes in all between 1976 and 1985 with a pilot Coronation Street (commonly known as 'Corrie' is an award-winning Soap opera created by Tony Warren The Archers is a British radio Soap opera broadcast on the BBC 's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. The history and fortunes of many leading British retailers such as Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury's are made reference to in the rags to riches drama A Woman of Substance, the debut novel of Barbara Taylor Bradford, dramatised for TV in the 1980s. Marks & Spencer Group plc (also M&S, Marks and Sparks, and Marks) is a British Retailer with 843 stores in more than 30 J Sainsbury plc ( is the parent company of Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd commonly known as Sainsbury's (also Sainsbury and JS) the third largest A Woman of Substance is a Novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford, and was published in 1979. Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE (born May 10, 1933) is an English Novelist Her 1979 debut A Woman of Substance, The indie band Cornershop is based on the stereotype of British Asian families running the convenience stores. Cornershop are a British indie band formed in Leicester in 1992 by Wolverhampton -born Tjinder Singh (singer songwriter and Dholaki British Asians are British citizens who are immigrants or descendants of immigrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

See also

• List of convenience stores
• Bodeguita
• General store
• Gas station
• Take a penny, leave a penny

References

External links

• Interview with a Korean 24-hour convenience store worker
• Japonismo.com Traditional and modern Japanese culture, with an article devoted to Japanese Konbini (convenience stores) (Spanish).
• Convenience Store Blog
• Convenience Store Decisions (convenience store industry trade publication)