On National 7-Eleven Day, where you can get a Slurpee before the store returns to the area
As the Wilmington area awaits the return of 7-Eleven, it'll be another year until the Leland location is open for National Free Slurpee Day.
Naturally, the day falls on July 11, or 7/11.
Until then, here's a way to get your Slurpee fix.
National Free Slurpee Day
7-Eleven celebrated its 75th birthday on July 11, 2002. Customers received a free Slurpee that day, making it the first official National Free Slurpee Day.
Between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., customers can go to a participating 7-Eleven and receive a free 12-ounce Slurpee (while supplies last).
Where to purchase a Slurpee?
If you can't wait to indulge in a Slurpee or wait until the 7-Eleven opens in Leland, 7-Eleven recently bought convenience store Speedway, adding to the 9,800 they operate in the United States.
Most Speedway locations, which are found in Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties, now have Slurpee machines.
Where is it?
The Leland store is being constructed at 1131 New Pointe Blvd. off U.S. 17, just east of Walmart and in front of Dunkin Donuts.
More: 7-Eleven stores left Wilmington 35 years ago. Why are they coming back?
Why was it named Slurpee?
Omar Knedlik, created the Slurpee (originally known by the name ICEE), purely by accident, when one of his soda fountains broke down, according to National Today. Knedlik was forced to put sodas in the freezer to keep them cool, thus resulting in a soda slush.
The name was coined by an advertising executive referencing the sound made when drinking it.
Fun Slurpee facts
By the spring of 1967, every 7-Eleven store in the country had a Slurpee machine.
Novelty names like Pink Fink, Moonshine, Sticky Icky and Gully Washer were some of the flavors.
Seven billion Slurpees have been sold since the drink's creation. The number of Slurpees sold everyday totals 470,000 and 19 counties serve the drink.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: National 7-Eleven Day free Slurpee in Wilmington, NC
