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Marking 45 years since it first landed on our shores, our ubiquitous convenience chain store 7-Eleven is turning back the clock to redesign three of its locations with a heavy dose of local nostalgia.
In Happy Valley, the brand’s very first Hong Kong branch has been meticulously restored to its original 1981 glory. Known affectionately as the “little red house”, the shop on Wong Nai Chung Road features an iconic sloped red roof and dark brick exterior. Step inside and you will find a space that feels like a genuine time tunnel, complete with cream-coloured walls, original menu boards and promo slogans, a vintage Slurpee machine, and the return of its hot food counter in its original position.
Over in Mong Kok, the shop at 99 Argyle Street has been transformed into a glowing tribute to the city’s disappearing neon heritage. Local artisan master Wu Chi-kai was brought in to handcraft a series of signs that wrap around the storefront. Look closely and you’ll spot clever nods to the neighbourhood, including neon mahjong tiles, goldfish motifs inspired by the nearby Goldfish Street, and a key symbol that pays homage to an old-school locksmith just around the corner.
The third installation takes us to Tsuen Wan, a major hub for the city’s minibuses. Located on Chuen Lung Street, this branch features hand-painted minibus signs created by master Mak Kam-sang, the last craftsman of his kind in Hong Kong. The display is a fun mix of destination plates like Yuen Long and Wong Tai Sin, cheeky Cantonese slang, and 7-Eleven staples like rice balls, siu mai, and stirred noodles in familiar red and blue calligraphy. The convex mirror mounted on the wall is also perfect for your next selfie.
If this is how they ring in their 45th anniversary, we’re already counting down to see how they’ll top this for the big five-zero.
7-Eleven 45th anniversary retro stores:
15 Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley
99 Argyle Street, Mong Kok
22–26 Chuen Lung Street, Tsuen Wan
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