Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider Wawa's Kearny location
- 7-Eleven and Wawa are two top convenience stores with their own loyal followings.
- While 7-Eleven is famous for its Slurpees and international presence, Wawa has built up its own smaller empire of convenience stores along the East Coast of the US.
- We visited both stores to see which was better. Overall, Wawa won us over with its friendly atmosphere and extensive food and drink menu.
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They call them convenience stores for a reason.
The low prices, ready-made meals, and coffee stations in most Wawa and 7-Eleven stores make the customer experience just that - convenient, especially for the en-route traveller in need of a pit-stop. They're also a perfect place to pick up some drug store staples and low cost meals in a rush. It's no surprise that Wawa and 7-Eleven - two top convenience store chains - have attracted loyal followings.
With just over 800 stores dotting the East Coast, Wawa hardly compares to the international ubiquity of 7-Eleven. True, it's hard to compete with 7-Eleven's almost 60,000 stores across the globe. But in this case, quantity does not necessarily mean quality.
I visited a Wawa and a 7-Eleven to see which offered a better convenience store experience. I had always been a 7-Eleven Slurpee fanatic, so it came as a surprise when Wawa won me over with its friendly atmosphere, extensive menu, and charming store design.
Here was my experience: