Longtime Astoria 7-Eleven Store Closing After 15 Years

ASTORIA, QUEENS — A 7-Eleven convenience store that has long sold snacks and hot dogs from a well-trafficked Astoria street corner will close within days.

The store opened in 2007 on the corner of 30th Avenue and 30th Street, facing Athens Square. An employee confirmed to Patch on Monday that it would close next week — likely on Wednesday or Thursday.

Perhaps owing to its prominent location, this 7-Eleven has inspired stronger feelings in the neighborhood than might be expected for a global chain. When one resident reported the upcoming closure on a Reddit forum last week, neighbors chimed in with stories about its friendly staff and tasty taquitos.

"End of an era," one user wrote.

"Very curious how that'll impact the usual Athens Square crowd," said another.

7-Eleven's corporate office did not respond to an email asking why the store was closing, and the employee told Patch she had received no explanation. A few weeks ago, 7-Eleven closed another longtime location on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

The roughly dozen people who work at the 30th Avenue store are being "taken care" of by the company, the employee said. Signs advertising "liquidation sales" were posted around the store on Monday, promoting frozen meals as cheap as $1.50, beers for $1.50 and face masks for 50 cents apiece.

Once this location closes, Astoria's 7-Eleven devotees need not look far for their Slurpees, however: the company has other locations on 31st Street in Ditmars-Steinway, and on Northern Boulevard in Long Island City.

Have an Astoria news tip? Email reporter Nick Garber at nick.garber@patch.com.