All of the 7-11 Stores locally have been franchised out.  I guess it started about 6 or 9 months ago.  And it shows.

There are places in Portsmouth where you can stand in the parking lot of one 7-11 and just about see the sign for another.

As police officers learning the streets, we use 7-11s as landmarks for block numbers and such.  If we are working Churchland, we have “4000″ which is 4001 Cedar Lane.    On the east side, we have “725″ which is 725 London St, or “1200″ which is 1200 High Street.  Even another “4000″ for 4000 George Washington Highway.

The one thing at these 7-11s that you could always count on was a fresh pot of coffee and for the most part some friendly folks to talk to on a long midnight shift.  7-11s replaced the proverbial “doughnut shops” years and years ago.

Now when you go into a 7-11, catching a fresh pot of coffee is iffy at best.  The stock in the store is down, limited selections of products and most of the people behind the counter are not interested in carrying on a conversation, even if they could.  They want you in, make your purchase and out.

The stores are dirty. I am starting to see products in them that remind me of stores in high crime areas, latex gloves sold individually, Chore Boy brass cleaning pads, used for packing for “crack” pipes, lots of rolling papers and other “non standard” 7-11 fare.

Of course, the main corporation doesn’t care anymore.  They are going to get their money from the franchise.  They could sell goose feathers for all they care.

Over all, I am seeing a huge decrease in the quality of service, quality of products and quantity of products.

There are two stores locally, one at 600 Frederick Blvd, and one on College Drive in Suffolk that are both owned by former corporate managers.  Donna and Jerry Masters.  They are continuing to run their stores they way they have run corporate stores for many years.  At least all the years I’ve been in Portsmouth.

These are the ONLY 7-11 Stores I will go into.  When you walk in, you can see the difference.

So if there isn’t a 7-11 locally I will drive to one of the Masters’ stores or the Wawa on Victory Blvd or Western Branch Blvd.

While I am just one guy…  I hear people talking about the problems and impressions they get from the stores.  I am not the ONLY one who isn’t patronizing the chain any more.