Convenience store chain 7-Eleven opened a concept store this month in Dallas featuring a fast-casual taco restaurant, bar and other decidedly restaurant-like amenities.
The move has its roots in 7-Eleven’s acquisition early last year of the Stripes convenience store chain, known for its Laredo Taco Company concept. That restaurant, with its housemade tortillas, had gained a loyal following, even earning a visit from the likes of Anthony Bourdain on one of his last trips through West Texas.
“The 7-Eleven lab is an experiential testing ground where customers can try and buy our latest innovations in a revolutionary new store format,” a 7-Eleven spokesperson told CSP Daily News. “7-Eleven plans to open other lab stores in geographically dispersed markets across the United States. We will study sales results, shopping trends and customer feedback to help determine the innovations that could launch in other stores around the country.”
Here’s a look inside the first of several 7-Eleven lab stores that will serve as launching pads for new ideas.