The city’s first Handy Pantry opened on this day in 1961. The parent company, Southland Corporation, operated approximately 700 stores outside of North Carolina, under the name of 7-Eleven Food and Dairy Stores. Handy Pantry was the name chosen for the stores in North Carolina.
The slogan for the company was “the world’s most convenient place to shop.”
The new building was one-story, of masonry construction, with a front of glass and aluminum, and with a permanent canopy. The building was set back a distance from Robinhood road, with a paved parking lot in front.
It was located at 1703 Robinhood Road, off Reynolda Road.
In 2000, 1703 Restaurant opened with fine dining and catering, and is currently operating at this location.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
You can see the peak of the old Hardee’s above this store
I remember it vividly, and still called it Handy Pantry long after it became a 7-11.