DALLAS – Today marks 79 years of operation for convenience retailer 7-Eleven, and to celebrate, participating 7-Eleven stores will serve 3 million free 7.11-ounce Slurpees in special "Happy Birthday" cups to customers while supplies last.

This retailer's 79th birthday is also being shared with the 25th birthday of its Big Gulp fountain drink. To commemorate the occasion, 7-Eleven is offering customers a special 40-ounce sized Big Gulp throughout the summer or while supplies last.

"Slurpee and Big Gulp drinks are American institutions," said Cindy Davis, 7-Eleven senior vice president of merchandising, in a press release, adding, "7-Eleven continues to be the face of convenience retailing to most consumers, setting the standards for the whole industry. Besides celebrating the birth of convenience store retailing, 7-Eleven Day, or July 11, gives us an opportunity to recognize other major company and product events."
 
Another convenience retailer is celebrating turning one year old by opening a new store in Hollywood, Calif.

On July 14, Famima will open the doors to a new store located on Hollywood Boulevard--the sixth of the Japanese retailer's specialty stores located in California. 

Famima is celebrating its one-year anniversary with prize sweepstakes starting on July 20. For three weeks, the retailer will offer more than 100 prizes daily with the top prize being a trip for two to Las Vegas.

In July 2005, the Japanese retailer opened its first convenience store on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood and is planning to have 20-plus stores in operation by the year's end.

"When we first opened our West Hollywood store, many people did not know what type of business we were. From our modern store design, some people mistook us for a bookstore or cell phone store," said Famima President and CEO Shiro Inoue in a press release, adding, "We understand the need to build our brand awareness and this will take time. We believe we can increase awareness by expanding to new locations and continuing to provide satisfying products and services to our customers."