• July 11, 2007

Last Saturday, everyone had their lucky day when the date hit 7/7/07. Today, though, is one convenience store chain's lucky day every year: 7-Eleven, the world's largest convenience retailer with more than 32,400 stores.

This year, the chain is celebrating its 80th anniversary by following the tradition of offering consumers free 7.11-ounce Slurpee drinks for free. Birthday cups will be available as well.

A news release sent out this week promotes the chain's birthday, noting that a loaf of bread cost 9 cents, a gallon of milk was 56 cents, a dozen eggs cost 46 cents, and ice was sold in blocks rather than bags when 7-Eleven opened its doors in 1927--little more than an ice dock.