Convenience store facts for kids
A convenience store is a small shop that sells many everyday items. You can find things like groceries, snack foods, candy, and drinks. They also often sell newspapers and magazines. These stores are different from big supermarkets because they are smaller and usually closer to where people live or work.
Convenience stores are super handy! They might be next to a gas station, so you can grab a snack while your family fills the car with fuel. You can also find them in cities, near train stations, or in other busy spots. Many convenience stores stay open for a long time, and some are even open 24 hours a day!
Because they are so convenient, these stores often charge a bit more than bigger supermarkets. This is because they buy smaller amounts of products. But they make up for it by being open longer, being in more places, and having shorter lines at the checkout.
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What are they called?
A convenience store can have many different names! You might hear people call them a c-store, Cold Store, party store, small grocery store, bodega, mini-market, or mini-mart. In French-speaking Canada, they are often called a depanneur.
What can you buy there?
Convenience stores sell all sorts of things! You can usually find snacks like candy, ice cream, and soft drinks. They also have everyday items like toiletries (things for personal care) and newspapers.
Many stores offer ready-to-eat food. This might include breakfast sandwiches or pre-made sandwiches. Some even have a delicatessen counter where you can get custom-made sandwiches. You might also find fresh doughnuts or a self-service microwave oven to heat up your food.
Some convenience stores are combined with other services. For example, they might be part of a gas station or even have a post office counter. In countries like Japan or Taiwan, convenience stores are very common because many people live close together. There, you can find unique items like hard-boiled tea eggs or fish cakes.
Smaller convenience stores usually don't sell many fresh foods that spoil quickly. This is because they don't have as many customers as big supermarkets. So, they mostly sell products that last a long time.
How are they different from supermarkets?
Even though some newer convenience stores are quite large, they still have a smaller selection of items compared to supermarkets. Often, there are only one or two choices for each product. As mentioned, prices are usually higher at convenience stores. This is because they buy products in smaller amounts from their suppliers.
Sometimes, products in convenience stores come in smaller packages. This helps them fit more items on the shelves. It also makes the price seem less different from the bigger packages you find in supermarkets. Smaller packages are also handy for travelers who don't want to carry a lot of leftover product.
In the United States, the average convenience store is about 2,768 square feet (257 square meters). Newer stores are often bigger, with more space for things like coffee areas or places to sit and eat. Convenience stores have grown a lot and now offer many services, sometimes acting like a small supermarket, restaurant, or even a bank.
In the US, convenience stores sell about 80% of the fuel bought. They are often the only places near a highway exit where drivers can buy food or drinks for many miles. Most of their profit comes from popular items that sell in large amounts. Convenience stores are open for long hours, with many open 24 hours a day.
Similar types of shops
Convenience stores are a bit like the old-fashioned general stores that used to be common. In Australia, they are similar to "milk bars." In Britain, "corner shops" or "village shops" served a similar purpose before modern convenience stores like SPAR became popular. In Quebec, Canada, "dépanneurs" are often family-owned shops that serve their neighborhoods.
Truck stops, also called "travel centers," are like big convenience stores for professional truck drivers. They often have restaurants, showers, and places to buy large amounts of diesel fuel. In Europe, these are called motorway service stations.
Smaller neighborhood grocery stores sometimes compete with convenience stores. They might offer fresh fruit and meat, like a supermarket, but are small enough for customers to get in and out quickly. In Brussels, Belgium, convenience stores are known as "night shops."
Images for kids
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A typical bodega in New York City
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Different energy drinks in a convenience store in Bangkok, Thailand
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Dépanneurs are common in French-speaking Canada, like this one in suburban Montreal.
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A Musmanni Bakery/Convenience store in Libera, Costa Rica
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R-Kioski in Veikkola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
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An Indomaret convenience store in Banten, Indonesia.
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An Oxxo store
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A family run Miscelánea
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A 7-Eleven shop under a block of flats
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Notice posted at Cheers to deter robbery
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A corner shop set from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, showing a typical British corner shop
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A modern British corner shop, part of the Best-One franchise
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In Taiwan, you often see different brands of convenience stores near each other.
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It's also common in Taiwan to see two convenience stores right next to each other.
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See also
In Spanish: Tienda de conveniencia para niños
