The first ampm location opened in Southern California in 1978. Today, there are over 900 stores throughout five western states, usually attached to a gas station, serving nearly 2,200 different products including snacks and soft-drinks.

7-Eleven began in 1927, when a Southland Ice Company employee in Dallas, Texas, began selling milk, bread and eggs along with the ice blocks. His name was Joe C. Thompson, and he eventually purchased the company and turned it into the Southland Corporation. He began to open convenience stores, which at first were called Tote’m, [...]