🏪
Convenience Store
kuhn-VEE-nyuhns stohr
Definitions
1
Places · Retail
Common
A small retail business that stocks everyday items such as groceries, snacks, beverages, toiletries and newspapers, often with extended hours.
Used to indicate convenience shopping, late-night purchases, or quick stops for essentials.
Running to the 🏪 for some snacks before the movie starts!
Text message
Midnight coffee run to the 🏪 got me through finals week.
Instagram caption
Represents different store types across cultures: 7-Eleven in US, Tesco Express in UK, konbini in Japan.
2
Places · Urban
Uncommon
Symbol representing neighborhood accessibility or local community presence, especially in urban settings.
Used in discussions about urban planning, neighborhood amenities, or community access.
Our new apartment has a 🏪 on the corner - so convenient!
Social media post
Often represents different concepts of local commerce across urban, suburban, and rural areas.
Evolution Timeline
2010
Emoji introduced in Unicode 6.0, designed to resemble Japanese konbini stores.
Growing global recognition of Japanese convenience store culture
2015
Usage expanded beyond literal stores to represent neighborhood accessibility in urban discussions.
Increased focus on walkable neighborhoods and urban planning
Cultural Context
Convenience stores serve different social functions across cultures - from community hubs in rural America to essential urban infrastructure in dense Asian cities.
These stores often represent economic opportunity for immigrant communities, particularly in Western countries where they're frequently operated by first-generation immigrants.
The visual design resembles Japanese konbini architecture, though users worldwide interpret it according to their local convenience store types.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Typically refers to 'corner shops', Tesco Express, Sainsbury's Local, or other small format grocery outlets.
Japan
Represents 'konbini' - Japanese convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson, or FamilyMart with extensive services.
United States
Typically represents chain stores like 7-Eleven, Circle K, or gas station mini-marts that are open late or 24 hours.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Typically used literally to indicate actual store visits or locations. Less likely to use in metaphorical contexts.
Gen_Z: Used to indicate late-night snack runs, hangout spots, or quick stops before social events. Often appears in TikTok content about convenience store finds.
Older: Limited usage, primarily in literal contexts when discussing actual store locations or planned visits.
Millennials: Used practically to indicate errands or food stops. Common in texts about daily routines or quick shopping needs.
Common Combinations
🏪🍔
Fast food available at convenience stores or quick meals on the go.
Represents the growing trend of ready-to-eat meals in convenience stores.
🏪🌙
Late-night convenience store run or 24-hour store.
Often used to indicate late-night snack runs or emergency purchases.
🏪🚶
Walking to the local store or neighborhood accessibility.
Used in discussions about walkable neighborhoods or quick errands.