convenience store

American  

noun

1. a retail store that carries a limited selection of basic items, as packaged foods and drugstore items, and is open long hours for the convenience of shoppers.

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convenience store British  

noun

1. a shop that has long opening hours, caters to local tastes, and is conveniently situated

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Etymology

Origin of convenience store

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

The rise of the hideaway was well timed as consumers have been cutting back on snack purchases after filling up at the pump, hitting convenience store sales.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Inside the convenience store, patrons chatted cheerfully as they waited for the shrimp fried rice and fish strips that make Food N’ Geaux a neighborhood staple.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

But the most vivid performance might in fact be the convenience store itself, brought to fluorescent, sanitized, colorful life by scenic designer Joanna Yu and lighting designer Wen-Ling Liao.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

A barrier was briefly erected outside a convenience store in 2024 to stop people from standing in the road to photograph a view of the snow-capped volcano that had gone viral.

From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026

He watched her walk into the convenience store.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson