Irving, Texas — 7-Eleven, Inc., the largest convenience retail chain in the world, recently celebrated the opening of its 60,000th store. 7-Eleven® started out as Southland Ice Company in Oak Cliff, Texas, in 1927. In 1946, with stores open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., the name was changed to 7-Eleven. Stores started staying open around the clock in 1971.