Dallas gave birth to 7-Eleven when an ice house on Edgefield Avenue evolved into the world’s largest convenience store empire. The original location, once home to the first Southland Ice dock, now serves the community under LULAC Council 100—a nod to the brand’s humble beginnings.
From this modest start, 7-Eleven’s innovative retail model revolutionized global convenience culture. Today, the holding company manages two distinct business approaches while maintaining strong ties to its Dallas heritage. The story of how a simple ice dock transformed retail forever awaits.
From Ice House to Retail Pioneer: The Birth of Southland Ice Company
Few global retail empires can trace their origins to a single ice dock, yet that’s precisely where 7-Eleven began. In 1927, Dallas, Texas became home to Southland Ice Company, when several icehouses merged into one operation.
What transformed this basic business into the convenience giant we know today? Innovation out of necessity. As one of Southland’s ice houses began offering milk, eggs, and bread, the model expanded into general retail under the name Tote’m Stores.
When the Great Depression struck, Joe C. Thompson Sr. took over in 1931 and guided the company through economic hardship by refocusing on daily necessities—laying the foundation for the convenience store as we know it. While 7-Eleven grew across the U.S., Houston was simultaneously becoming a global port hub with the Houston Ship Channel.
The “Tote’m Stores” Era: Native American Influences and Early Branding
While Dallas residents initially knew Southland only for ice, the company soon adopted distinctive branding. In the late 1920s, they erected totem poles at retail locations, branding them “Tote’m Stores” to reflect the idea that customers could “tote” their goods away.
Under Joe C. Thompson Sr.’s leadership, the company moved beyond ice to offer grocery essentials. The Tote’m concept expanded rapidly, reshaping Southland into a versatile merchant.
This branding era became the visual and cultural precursor to the 7-Eleven name. Like the Lakewood Theater that served its community in 1938, Tote’m Stores became landmarks across Dallas neighborhoods.
Joe C. Thompson Sr.: The Visionary Behind the Convenience Revolution
Every industry innovation needs a visionary, and for 7-Eleven, that person was Joe C. Thompson Sr. In 1931, he transformed the Southland Ice Company from a utility-focused supplier into a retail pioneer.
He saw three opportunities that would change retail forever:
- Expanding product offerings beyond ice
- Staying open longer than traditional stores
- Introducing self-serve soda fountains, later paving the way for innovations like the Slurpee
Thompson’s foresight mirrored the pioneering spirit of Fort Worth’s Star-Telegram, which embraced emerging technologies in media.
How the Great Depression Transformed a Dallas Ice Business
Thompson’s leadership became crucial during the Great Depression. Southland Ice filed for bankruptcy in 1931, but rebounded through a bold business shift.
By diversifying its offerings and leaning into the Tote’m store model, the company built a framework for modern convenience retail. This transformation laid the groundwork for what would become 7-Eleven, proving that even in economic crisis, innovation can thrive.
The Birth of the 7-Eleven Name and 24-Hour Shopping Concept
By 1946, Southland rebranded its stores from Tote’m to 7-Eleven, named for its extended hours—7 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week.
This change revolutionized convenience culture:
- Pioneered the 24-hour retail concept (which began in the 1960s)
- Centered its business model on speed and accessibility
- Created a strong, scalable brand identity
This shift positioned the company for massive postwar growth, transforming a regional store model into a national empire.
Oak Cliff’s Gift to the World: Product Innovations That Changed Retail Forever
From Dallas’s Oak Cliff neighborhood came three iconic innovations:
- Self-serve soda fountains (first in U.S. retail)
- Slurpee frozen drinks, launched in 1966
- Big Gulp, introduced in 1976, ushering in the supersize drink era
7-Eleven was also one of the first chains to serve coffee in paper cups and implement drive-up retail formats, helping shape the future of global convenience retail.
From Local Chain to International Phenomenon: The Expansion Years
By the 1950s, Southland had grown to 490 locations across the U.S. Expansion accelerated through acquisitions of regional companies like Shamrock Ice Cream and Cabell’s Dairy.
The brand’s international debut began in Mexico in the 1970s and extended to Japan and the U.K. soon after. 7-Eleven Japan would eventually outgrow its parent company in size and acquire a controlling interest in the 2000s.
The Dallas Legacy: How 7-Eleven Continues to Shape Convenience Culture
Many don’t realize the global 7-Eleven empire began at a simple ice dock on Edgefield Avenue in Dallas. Today, that original location is home to LULAC Council 100, preserving the space’s historic roots.
The Thompson family helped build a business that would redefine how we shop. The 7-Eleven name, born from its operating hours, became synonymous with 24/7 convenience.
Though the company now operates two distinct business arms—7-Eleven, Inc. in the U.S. and Seven & i Holdings in Japan—its Dallas legacy remains the cornerstone of its corporate story.
