7-Eleven vs. QuikTrip in Upstate South Carolina

ANDERSON, S.C. – Convenience store competition is heating up in upstate South Carolina. Following QuikTrip's move into Anderson County, 7-Eleven Inc. is also setting up shop in the region.

Employees at four Hickory Point stores in Anderson County told the Anderson Independent Mail on Monday that their locations will join the fold of Dallas-based 7-Eleven within the next two weeks. In addition, a Palms convenience store near Seneca is also making the switch to 7-Eleven this week, the newspaper reported.

The manager of an Anderson, S.C.-area Hickory Point store said she has been told all of the company's locations in the region will soon be changing to 7-Eleven convenience stores. There are more than 20 Hickory Point stores in South Carolina, with the highest concentration found in Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

Patrick O'Dell, president of Hickory Point and O'Dell Oil in Belton, did not return phone calls from the newspaper on Monday.

Margaret Chabris, a spokeswoman for 7-Eleven, declined to answer questions, but said the company may reveal more about its plans later this week. Currently, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and licenses more than 8,500 stores in the U.S. and Canada.

7-Eleven's move into the area comes as QuikTrip has begun to make a name for itself among area residents. The Tulsa, Okla.-based c-store retailer has opened several stores in Upstate South Carolina region over the past 18 months -- including five in Anderson County. QuikTrip operates more than 650 stores in 11 states.