Thursday, June 17, 2010

THIH: Is 7-Eleven a Good H Street Neighbor?

The Hill is Home discusses the 7-Eleven that has signed a multi-year lease at the H Street Connection location. The site is due to be demolished at some point, and redeveloped, so that would put 7-Eleven into the new space as well. We've actually talked about the possibility of a 7-Eleven on H Street a few times in the past. Some readers are strong supporters (they LOVE their Slurpees!), while other can't stand the idea.

12 comments:

Snirtanion said...

I live on Tenth Street, and I do appreciate that 7-11's serve a need (late nite meats-shaped-like-a-hot-dog, for example).

At the same time, I shudder to contemplate the problems this could cause for my street. The 7-11 on 8th street is the very definition of an attractive nuisance - loitering, aggressive panhandling, litter, traffic, etc.

Unfortunately, I do not have any confidence that this 7-11 location will be any different than the one on 8th Street. I'd love for this to serve as a clean, well-monitored place to stop for sundries, but I just don't know how we ensure that happens.

That's entirely where my nervousness lies.

ro said...

Not sure what the controversy is. It's a convenience store. H st. could actually use one. I don’t like having to stand in line at the safeway for a single loaf of bread or box of cereal and I really don't like going into some of these shady liquor store/bodegas which often don't carry what I'm looking for anyway. Would be nice to have an option that falls in between those two. And i would guess the loitering and trash at the 7-11 would still be a lot less than what's produced from family liquor and the seemingly daily dance party that seems to have formed outside their doors. there are several examples around this city of 7-11s that are responsbile neighbors. it can work. and frankly it's sort of moot at this point anyway. 7-11 is coming.

Anonymous said...

People who complain about the 8th street 7-11 know NOTHING about "fast food" littering levels.

Try living near the Checkers on Maryland and 14th for a while.

Added bonuses: No police, and lots of stabbings/cars driving into the lobby/old grease removal trucks-smell.

Don't get me started on the traffic (cut-through and otherwise) and loitering.

I am also forced to mention the shanty town that's popped up across the street (at the "Shell No" site), and the fact that the city/Checkers has seen fit to only place a couple trash cans anywhere near the place.

-Ry

charles said...

I live about two blocks from the 7-Eleven on 8th. Although I rarely purchase anything there I have a few observations:

They do not sell alcohol (maybe the one on H will have a similar policy?)

There are often police in the store or parked outside (the power of donuts and/or coffee?)

I don't really see much loitering per se ... i see a lot of people, many of them poor, buying stuff there. If you see people standing on the corner they are probably waiting for a bus.

We have a fair number of corner markets in the neighborhood (I wish we had more, take it up with folks who converted commercial spaces to residences). The fact that 7-Eleven is busy tells me they are doing something that people want - and again, this particluar store does not sell beer or wine, unlike the corner stores.

I have seen 7-Elevens in upscale areas of almost every town in which I have spent any time - including Washington DC.

Instead of declaring war on 7-Eleven I think a better strategy woudl be to welcome them and encourage them to be good neighbors - don't sell booze, be strict as hell about no tobacco to minors, keep litter picked up, etc.

Anonymous said...

Stanton sez
baby steps folks... i go to the 7-eleven on Maryland infrequently and i can see why neighbors aren't thrilled. but if i were drawing up a list of businesses that are terrible neighbors, and should be boycotted till they leave or improve, the 7-11 folks rank in nuisance well below:
Checkers
Autozone
Checkers
CVS [bad service all locations that's all]
H Street Self Storage
Autozone
Checkers
(insert name here) bullet-proof glass chinese/fried chicken/vomit food places

i would start with those really bad places then 7-eleven would have cause to believe the neighborhood demands better.

Anonymous said...

I have no problem with a 7-11 on H Street. The one on Maryland and 8th is well run and a police substation. It's the only corner store near me (8th and F) that sells milk that doesn't go bad before the expiration date. It's clean, the staff are pleasant - what's not to like?

Anonymous said...

Charles mentioned:

"I see a lot of people buying food there, many of them poor". how did you come to that conclusion? I go there often in sweats from the gym. Own two homes on the hill, have a masters degree and wonder if i'm thought of as poor? hmm..interesting.....

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, I think a lot of the litter issues are actually attributable more to the clientele of these places (7-11, Autozone and Checkers) than the businesses themselves. There seem to be a lot of folks who feel that just dropping trash on the ground (or dumping oil down the drain) is perfectly acceptable. Everyone I know in this town has a story about seeing someone throw waste on the ground, seemingly going out of their way to avoid putting it into a trash bin right next to them. DC also seems to have the highest rate of people throwing garbage out of car windows I've ever experienced. I don't know why this is, or how they can't understand the negative impacts of their actions.

-Cowardly Anonymous Poster

Anonymous said...

Will they be required to install security cameras?

oboe said...

I don't know what the fuss is all about: I've been to the 7-11 on MacArthur Blvd in Glen Echo, and it's quite charming.

Anonymous said...

I don’t live in your community but my community in Denver is extremely concerned about a 7-11 moving in. For the same concerns many of you have mentioned but also because of the crime that 7-11′s all over the country attract. Read more about it at http://bit.ly/dpAIw8. If you have to give on any points in your MOU make sure it’s not on any of the security issues. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

can anyone deny or confirm that the seven eleven is opening this weekend?

-anxiously awaiting