<Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.7-eleven.com </Td> </Tr> <P> 7 - Eleven Inc. is a Japanese - owned American international chain of convenience stores, headquartered in Dallas, Texas . The chain was known as Tote'm Stores until it was renamed in 1946 . Its parent company, Seven - Eleven Japan Co., Ltd., operates, franchises, and licenses 66,579 stores in 17 countries as of 30 June 2018 . Seven - Eleven Japan is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo and held by the Seven & I Holdings Co . </P> <P> The company's first outlets were named "Tote'm Stores" because customers "toted" away their purchases . Some stores featured genuine Alaskan totem poles in front of the store . In 1946, the chain's name was changed from "Tote'm" to "7 - Eleven" to reflect the company's new, extended hours, 7: 00 am to 11: 00 pm, seven days per week . In November 1999, the corporate name of the US company was changed from "The Southland Corporation" to "7 - Eleven Inc ." </P> <P> In 1927, Southland Ice Company employee John Jefferson Green began selling eggs, milk, and bread from one of 16 ice house storefronts in Dallas, with permission from one of Southland's founding directors, Joe C. Thompson, Sr. Although small grocery stores and general merchandisers were available, Thompson theorized that selling products such as bread and milk in convenience stores would reduce the need for customers to travel long distances for basic items . He eventually bought the Southland Ice Company and turned it into Southland Corporation, which oversaw several locations in the Dallas area . </P>

Where did the name seven eleven come from