By: Eli Locke

Sentry Staff Reporter

One prominent question that has been stumping philosophers for centuries is this: what doesn’t 7-11 sell? Although most students and many others have learned to love this convenience store over the years, which got its name from its former operation hours, the beloved 7-11 closest to our school will be closing, supposedly before October 21.

Northern Arlington is renowned for its plethora of 7-11s: In fact, there are four 7-11 stores within two and a half miles in our county. Yet, the closing of the 7-11 on the corner of Lee Highway and North George Mason Drive that is currently adjacent to Sam Torrey’s Shoe Service is a highly significant one.

One possible reason for the closing is that there is another 7-11 only a quarter of a mile up the road on Lee Highway from the 7-11 that will be closing. However, the 7-11 further up the road has a reputation among some Patriots for attracting some less-than-pleasant customers due to the surrounding neighborhoods.

Another reason that the 7-11 closing is surprising is that a similar situation transpired just over a year ago when the 7-11 in the Williamsburg Shopping Center closed due to high rent. After a series of random and somewhat awkward attempts at filling the lot with another store, a string of failures eventually got the 7-11 reinstated, presumably after a lower rent was agreed on. Many local 7-11 customers were dumbfounded by the closing, since the store had been reaping profits from both children in nearby neighborhoods as well as Bishop O’Connell High School students. Since the reinstatement of the convenience store, neighboring stores have blossomed, such as the classic Peking Pavilion and Backyard Barbeque but also newcomers Deli Italiano and Zinga! Fro-yo.

Although the 7-11 in jeopardy only has one neighbor, the aforementioned Sam Torrey Shoe Service, many of the reasons the 7-11 in the Williamsburg Shopping Center closed temporarily have reappeared in the possible permanent closing of the 7-11 on George Mason and Lee Highway. According to arlnow.com, this specific 7-11 had been franchised owned until Aziz Ali bought it a little over eight months ago. However, the owner of the lot, the Arlington Hospital, had been renting the lot on a month-to-month basis, and when a long-term deal could not be reached, Ali was instructed to close his doors by October 21st. Ali spoke to arlnow about the pressing local issue.

“They didn’t tell us anything else,” Ali said. “We were completely in the dark. I asked ‘what if we don’t want to leave?’ and they said ‘we’ll force you out.’”

As for the impact it has in our own classrooms, junior John Cohen, a regular customer at the 7-11 (usually once to twice a week), is clearly disappointed by the impending closure. Even with another 7-11 up the street, Cohen certainly favored the one at the intersection of Lee and George Mason.

“I now have to travel farther to get what I could get at [the old] 7-11. Its set up was also very convenient and I knew where everything was. I also really enjoyed the employees and they were always very nice to me,” noted Cohen.

Even though Cohen would prefer a 7-11 in the lot, he stated that if it had to be replaced, he would prefer a CVS or other convenience store. However, two rumors that have emerged about possible replacements for the 7-11. One is a new store named Sam’s Subs. The other is donut store Fractured Prune, which has multiple locations in Maryland.

Regardless of what happens to the 7-11, it is all but certain it will be closing. Without a doubt, this is a severe misfortune to many students and customers alike.