Convenience store chain 7-Eleven closed all its outlets in Indonesia on June 30.

PT Modern Internasional, the 7-Eleven franchise holder in Indonesia, cited limited resources as the reason for the closures.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd, the parent company of the global 7-Eleven, has expressed an interest in reopening the convenience store brand in Indonesia. The company is reportedly looking for a new partner to restart the business.

With all the hullabaloo surrounding the business, 7-Eleven has left not only empty buildings but also a mark on its customers in Indonesia. Here are seven features of Indonesia’s 7-Eleven that will be missed by many.  

24-hour service

Convenience stores are not a rarity in Indonesia. However, only a few brands offer 24-hour service, which makes it convenient for customers to buy an assortment of things, such as ice cubes for parties, even during the wee hours.  

Meeting places

7-Eleven outlets were all strategically located, making them perfect meeting places. Furthermore, the relatively huge space made 7-Eleven outlets ideal places from where to order online transportation, such as Uber or Go-Jek.

Cheap hangout

Unlike 7-Eleven outlets in other countries, the local version came with chairs and tables for those wanting to linger. Here, customers could enjoy affordable food and beverages and sit for as long as they wanted. This feature made 7-Eleven a go-to place for those looking for a cheap hangout.

Read also: 7-Eleven loses steam due to alcohol ban, tight margin: Business group

Parking space

Compared to other convenience store brands, 7-Eleven outlets in Indonesia had more spacious parking areas. This feature saved customers from the hassle of finding a parking spot when visiting an outlet.

Rest room

Since they were designed as hangout places, local 7-Eleven outlets were equipped with rest rooms, making them convenient for toilet breaks.   

Food

The local 7-Eleven outlets served a wide array of food, varying from hot dogs, bento and pasta to fried rice. When in a hurry, a quick visit to an outlet was a sure bet of being able to grab some filling food.

Drinks

The slushy frozen carbonated beverage called Slurpee is an icon of 7-Eleven. Since the outlets have closed, Slurpee lovers will need to travel to neighboring countries to buy the sweet drink. In addition to Slurpees, Indonesia’s 7-Eleven affordable beverages, such as the Rp 10,000 (75 US cents) coffee, will surely be missed too. (kes)