We shopped at Wawa and 7-Eleven to see which convenience store was better. The winner was clear.

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• 7-Eleven and Wawa are two top convenience stores with their own loyal followings.
• While 7-Eleven is famous for its Slurpees and international presence, Wawa has built up its own smaller empire of convenience stores along the East Coast of the US. 
• We visited both stores to see which was better. Overall, Wawa won us over with its friendly atmosphere and extensive food and drink menu.
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

They call them convenience stores for a reason.

The low prices, ready-made meals, and coffee stations in most Wawa and 7-Eleven stores make the customer experience just that — convenient, especially for the en-route traveller in need of a pit-stop. They’re also a perfect place to pick up some drug store staples and low cost meals in a rush. It’s no surprise that Wawa and 7-Eleven — two top convenience store chains — have attracted loyal followings.

Read more: We visited convenience-store rivals Wawa and Sheetz to see which does it better — and the winner is worth a trip in itself

With just over 800 stores dotting the East Coast, Wawa hardly compares to the international ubiquity of 7-Eleven. True, it’s hard to compete with 7-Eleven’s almost 60,000 stores across the globe. But in this case, quantity does not necessarily mean quality.

I visited a Wawa and a 7-Eleven to see which offered a better convenience store experience. I had always been a 7-Eleven Slurpee fanatic, so it came as a surprise when Wawa won me over with its friendly atmosphere, extensive menu, and charming store design.

Here was my experience:

First, I stopped by 7-Eleven. I visited the location on Fulton street in Downtown New York City. Its location in the heart of the Financial District makes it a regular stop for office-dwellers in need of a bit of fresh air.

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As soon as I walked in, I was struck by the small size of the store. The layout was narrow and slightly cramped. Despite the size, the store was remarkably clean.

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

The shelves were neatly arranged in a user-friendly order, but the space felt cramped and overcrowded. There were only about two stocked aisles in the whole store.

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Shoshy Ciment)