7-Eleven Officially Returns to Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- One of two new 7-Eleven stores in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., opened on Aug. 9, reported the Daily Record. Located at 123 Julia St., the new store marks the end of a 22-year absence from the Jacksonville market.

A second downtown 7-Eleven is reportedly under development at State and Main Streets.

The Dallas-based convenience store chain announced its impending return during a March press conference attended by 7-Eleven CEO Joe DePinto and Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, as CSNews Online previously reported.

7-Eleven plans to open 15 to 20 new Jacksonville stores this year, with the goal of opening 80 or more by 2015, according to the news outlet. Each store will employ at least 10 people and generate approximately $100,000 in city sales and property tax revenue.

In 1990, the company exited Jacksonville after it sold its c-stores to Gate Petroleum. Its return reportedly marks the expiration of a non-compete agreement with Gate.