7-Eleven to expand Wasatch Front presence

 (Salt Lake Tribune) Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. plans to add two dozen stores in the Salt Lake area over the next three years.

The convenience store chain said it is partnering in the Salt Lake City market with NAI Corporate Real Estate Services to add to the 111 stores the company already has in the state. Of those, 77 are in the Salt Lake area. 7-Eleven has both company-operated locations and franchises.

The company is building two stores that are set to open by the end of June. Three more are scheduled to open later in the year.

In addition to building new stores, 7-Eleven also is converting retail outlets that have operated under other brands to the company's format, said spokeswoman Margaret Chabris. Nearly 180 independent stores already have been converted to the 7-Eleven brand nationwide since 2005, she added.

7-Eleven, whose stores typically include 2,400 to 3,000 square feet of space, is among a fairly small group of retailers continuing to expand during bad economic times.

"Most retailers have scaled back their expansions right now," said Jason Smith, vice president of NAI Corporate Real Estate Services.

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