7-Eleven Hong Kong is turning 45, and the celebrations are already underway

From Happy Valley beginnings, it celebrates its roots with retro stores, local craft, and citywide surprises.

It started with a single store on a street corner in Happy Valley. That was 3 April 1981. Forty-five years later, there are close to 1,100 of them. As Hong Kong's neighbourhood store for 45 years, 7-Eleven has always put customers first – open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in every district of the city. 

To mark its 45th anniversary, 7-Eleven is launching a year of celebrations under the theme "Always Here, Made for More" – bringing convenience and surprises to every corner of the city and staying as close as ever to the people in it. 

Rather than telling its own story, 7-Eleven reflects the rhythms, language, and shared moments of life in Hong Kong – the very things that have kept it relevant since 1981. In a category defined by convenience and proximity, the campaign positions 7-Eleven not just as a retail network but as a brand embedded in the fabric of the city.

The first wave of activations centres on Store #0001 in Happy Valley – with the recreation of the original Happy Valley store in its classic "little red house" design, the launch of a new own-brand and local collaboration apparel line, and a range of special offers.

The Happy Valley store was where it all began. For 45 years, it has been part of the memories of everyone who walked through its doors – and now, for the 45th anniversary, it is going back to the beginning. 7-Eleven has recreated the original 1981 store exactly as it was, inviting customers to return to where the story started. The exterior has been fully restored to its 1980s design. The red roof is back – the one that gave the store its nickname, "the little red house." The dark brick walls are back, hung with a recreated vintage 7-Eleven sign and the original promotional slogans from the era. After 45 years, the store looks exactly as it did when it first opened its doors – ready to meet old friends again. Inside, the recreation is just as careful. The Tsat Jai Sik Dong Hot Food Counter is back in its original position. The Slurpee machine is back. Every refrigerator, every corner of the shop, has been restored to the atmosphere of the 1980s – cream walls setting off the classic orange, green and red, with the original menu boards and promotional slogans in place throughout. Every detail has been considered. Walking in feels like stepping into a time tunnel. But this store is more than a recreation. For countless Hong Kong people, it is a tangible piece of something shared – a place where personal memories and a city's history meet. That connection is what 7-Eleven has always been about.

The classic "Red House" design drew a steady stream of visitors, many of them coming to see a piece of the city's past. Building on that response, 7-Eleven has created two more 45th anniversary theme stores, each drawing from a different piece of Hong Kong's craft heritage. Neon signage and classic minibus plates take centre stage, worked into the exterior design of each store and turning them into new photo hotspots.

The 7-Eleven 45th Anniversary Mong Kok Theme Store centres on neon signage, with every piece handcrafted by local neon artisan Master Wu Chi-kai. The signs incorporate brand touchstones – "45th Anniversary," "Open 24 Hours," and "Your Neighbourhood Store" – alongside details specific to the area: mahjong tiles, goldfish street motifs, and a key design referencing a nearby old-school locksmith, paired with the phrase 「成就解鎖」– "Achievement Unlocked." Playful, but rooted in the neighbourhood.

Minibuses are part of daily life in Hong Kong, and Tsuen Wan – one of the city's main minibus hubs – is no stranger to the destination plates that guide them. The other 7-Eleven 45th Anniversary Theme Store in Tsuen Wan takes its cue from these classic plates, with Hong Kong's last hand-lettering minibus plate craftsman, Master Mak Kam-sang, creating a series of plates in the traditional red-and-blue calligraphy style. In place of destinations, the plates feature 7-Eleven staples – onigiri, Slurpee, and stirred noodles – written in the same style as the city's transit signs. A convex mirror is mounted on the exterior wall, a nod to the car parks that dot the neighbourhood and a ready-made photo spot. 

For redefining the convenience store sector and sustaining its leadership in the industry, 7-Eleven Hong Kong was honoured with the Convenience Store of the Year - Hong Kong accolade in the Retail Asia Awards 2026.

7-Eleven has always been close by. These stores reflect something the brand genuinely values: the textures of Hong Kong life and a commitment to keeping them alive for the next generation.

The Retail Asia Awards is presented by Retail Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's exceptional products or initiatives in the Retail industry, please contact Marni Marco at [email protected].