What's with the name 7 Eleven?

Question

Does anyone know why the chain of convenience stores called 7 Eleven has that name?
It doesn't reflect their hours; they are open 7 days a week 24 hours a day, why isn't it called 7 Twenty Four?

Answer 1

The company was first started in 1927. Initially, these stores were open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., business hours that were unprecedented in their length at that time, hence the name. The company began to use the 7-Eleven name in 1946. In 1962, 7-Eleven first experimented with a 24-hour schedule in Austin, Texas. In 1963, 24-hour stores were established in Las Vegas, Fort Worth, and Dallas.

Answer 2

It's the hours the original store was open. Way back then, grocery stores opened later and closed earlier. This proved a hardship for some workers at a factory (?). Someone saw an opportunity and opened a small grocery store with limited by basic inventory, and kept it open long hours for the workers. And the rest, as they say, is history. I remember when I saw my first 7-eleven. I think I was in upper grade school.

Answer 3

I always had guessed it referred to their opening at 7AM and staying open until 11 pm. (at least that those were their hours when they adopted the name).

Turns out that's correct! But here's a more detailed explanation they provide on their own web site:

"The company's first convenience outlets were known as Tote'm stores since customers "toted" away their purchases, and some even sported genuine Alaskan totem poles in front. In 1946, Tote'm became 7-Eleven to reflect the stores' new, extended hours - 7 a.m. until 11 p.m., seven days a week."
http://www.7-eleven.com/about/history.asp

Answer 4

The others are correct about the name reflecting the hours. I suppose if they were being founded today, they would be called 24/7 or 24-Seven