Q: For years I have seen dozens and dozens of the very distinctive, now repurposed, 7-Eleven store buildings. What I haven’t seen is a currently operating 7-Eleven franchise. When did the chain pull out of Georgia and under what circumstances?
—Peter Livingston, Atlanta
A: The chain left Georgia – and several other states — in the 1980s, but has since grown to include more than 56,600 stores in 18 countries, including 10,500 stores in North America, it states on 7-Eleven's website.
“Over the last few decades, we have grown in store numbers to the point where we have surpassed the units we operated and franchised almost 30 years ago,” Margaret Chabris, 7-Eleven’s director of corporate communications, told Q&A on the News in an email. “Our growth strategy is market concentration, whereby we add stores in areas where we have a significant number of existing, successful stores that can best support our business of daily delivery of fresh foods.”
That strategy and infrastructure helps 7-Eleven “be more efficient when it comes to purchasing and distribution/logistics,” she wrote.
Q: Who is the woman on the field with Arthur Blank at Falcons games? Are they married?
—Bob Markert, Roswell
A: Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, has been engaged to Angie Macuga for more than a year.
Stephanie Blank, who was married to Blank for 16 years, filed for divorce in Fulton County in February 2013, The AJC reported.
Blank has three children from his first marriage to Diana Blank and three children from his marriage to Stephanie.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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