Some people like to go shopping when they travel. I’m not usually one of those people (though I am married to someone who is), but my current trip to Taiwan is an exception. On our first full day in Taiwan, I couldn’t wait to go shopping at… 7-Eleven! Let me explain.
In this post:
Taipei’s 7-Eleven with a Starlux Airlines theme
While I appreciate the consistency and variety of options available at 7-Eleven around the world, I can’t say I’m generally a loyal follower of the brand. However, when I mentioned I was traveling to Taipei, I can’t count the number of OMAAT readers who reached out to tell me that I had to visit a specific 7-Eleven in Taipei. Why? Well, it has a Starlux Airlines theme, with Starlux being one of the three global airlines in Taiwan.
This particular location is the 7-Eleven Dunhua North Road, located in the Songshan are of the city. The address is as follows: No. 149, DunHua N Rd, Songshan District. Lucky enough, it’s located just two blocks from the Capella Taipei, which is where we elected to stay (more on that in a separate post, because OMG!).
So, what makes this 7-Eleven special? As you approach, you’ll already see Starlux branding underneath the typical 7-Eleven sign.
For that matter, the direct exterior of the store has more prominent Starlux branding than 7-Eleven branding.
The inside of the store is fascinating. There’s a seating area right inside the entrance, with the wall intended to look like the fuselage of a Starlux plane.
Across from that is some seating with “FLY WITH THE STAR” written on it, plus a screen with programming about Starlux.
In terms of products, this location has all the standard products you’d expect from a 7-Eleven, but with airline branding all around it. For example, above the fridges with drinks is STARWONDERERS branding.
This reflects the Starlux safety video, as the STARWONDERERS are the “guardians” of Starlux flights (in addition to being an aviation geek, the company’s founder is a big space nerd).
In another area of the 7-Eleven you’ll find clocks with the times of different cities around the world. Well, sort of. I don’t think the clocks have actually been adjusted in a long time…
Other parts of the store look mostly normal, aside from a few Starlux logos or space-themed ceilings.
There’s also a cute table with a glass display, with what’s intended to look like an apron and runway, with several Starlux planes.
Lastly, there’s a small display with Starlux branded merchandise for sale, much of which is also available through Starlux’s online shop (which unfortunately doesn’t ship to the United States).
For what it’s worth, this seems to operate as a totally normal 7-Eleven in terms of the customer profile. Or at least that was my impression, as I was the only person who was downright giddy.
I’m curious, does anyone know the backstory of this arrangement? Presumably Starlux is paying some amount to have its branding in the store? Are there are other themed 7-Eleven stores out there, and I just missed them, or…?
So, what did I buy at the Starlux 7-Eleven?!
Admittedly I have very limited space in my bag, so I couldn’t actually acquire that many things. Initially I wanted to pick up a few Starlux mugs. However, they’re city themed, and the Taipei mugs were sold out, which were the ones that interested me most. So I decided to skip that.
Instead, I bought the Starlux dynamic night light music box, as it’s described, which I’ve been eyeing for years — literally (see my post about it from 2022). It’s basically a cute little moving box that has lights and plays the carrier’s landing music (yes, Starlux has separate boarding and landing music).
Our older son, Miles, is going to absolutely love this, so I can’t wait to bring it home and set it up for him (okay, and let’s be real, I love it just as much).
Bottom line
After hearing about it for years, I finally had the chance to check out the Starlux Airlines themed 7-Eleven in Taipei. I lucked out, as we happened to be staying right by it, so I didn’t even have to go out of my way to visit it.
Talk about a fun twist on the typical 7-Eleven. I do wish the selection of merchandise had been a bit bigger, but I also understand this isn’t a full-on aviation geek store, and it also has all the typical things you’d expect from a 7-Eleven. If you’re into this kind of stuff, be sure to check it out when visiting Taipei!
What’s your take on Taipei’s Starlux themed 7-Eleven?
Nice! Did you also see the Hello Kitty 7/11 stores?
Tim "Tom" "Little Red Riding Hood" "DunceyDeuce" Dunn will be "Extraordinaryly" angry that this is but themed for a China airline as opposed to a USA airline namely "Delta".
He doesn't seem to get that the asian Airlines, hell even the Europe airlines will always be so superior to all of the Western Airlines. Guy spews what so many great and SMART individuals (myself included) so rightly describe as "Total Nonsense" What a Dunce!
Lucky,
You traveling with Klint to Asia?
Kinda boring innit? Taipei? HK? BKK?
Meh.
There are lots of other 7-11 themed stores in Taipei; e.g Hello Kitty, Charlie Brown, etc. This article has a good summary:
https://taiwanderers.com/themed-7-elevens-taipei-taiwan/
Also, if you plan on getting any pineapple cakes, you could head over to Taipei Leechi. You can then walk east by one block and visit the EVA Air HQ. I had to go into the EVA HQ many years back, and recall they had a nice display of model planes.
Ok!!!
;-)
I’m surprised United or Delta doesn’t do something similar. At least open up a store that sells airline related merchandise.
Just saw this OMMAT post with a big smile on the Starlux-themed 7-Eleven in Taipei and it only scratches the surface of how wild this concept really is
last year I went inside the store and made a short video of it:
https://youtube.com/shorts/Qbj_lVxEFTk?si=0za-D03tacjqX8MR
Damn! If I knew this existed I totally would have gone when I was in Taipei this past August. Oh well...
Not 7-11, but the FamilyMart near the Shin-Seibijo station by Haneda Airport sells JAL, ANA, and JASDF memorabilia. This is because this is the stop you get off at when you're going to the ANA and JAL hangar tours (which you absolutely need to check out, by the way).
7-11's are way of life in Asia. In Thailand where I am now for 4 months the people just call them 7. Within a 10 minute walk of the Hyatt I am staying in Bangkok there are probably 15. When I am home in Ohio I never go and see any 7's.
HR bkk? Say hi to Pear for me
I watched a good CNBC piece (link below) recently about how 7-11’s parent company is making an effort to make US locations more like their counterparts in Asia, including healthier/fresher food and a new design. I would absolutely visit (and spend) more if their offering was more like Asia.
https://youtu.be/tEMQ0yn4VFs?si=uinftU1vAViLxn7p
I would actually go to US 7-11s if they were even remotely like their Asia counterparts.
Oh you missed the special STARLUX themed chips. If you take a closer look at the chip photo in the article, you can find some that has a plane window background and they are flavors based on destinations STARLUX serves.
Also this 7-11 is about 10 minutes walk from STARLUX Flagship Store, a standalone shop with beautiful decor and a small exclusive selection.
also Ben, JL has a special Flying Stamp collection called 御翔印。 it imitates the special stamps temples in Japans give out to collectors that has artistic value. There are a total of 55 of them, and they each feature airport's name in caligraphy and the very first runway that opened in that airport. They can only be bought in their respective Sky Shop in the airport, so a full collection requires visiting all airports JL...
also Ben, JL has a special Flying Stamp collection called 御翔印。 it imitates the special stamps temples in Japans give out to collectors that has artistic value. There are a total of 55 of them, and they each feature airport's name in caligraphy and the very first runway that opened in that airport. They can only be bought in their respective Sky Shop in the airport, so a full collection requires visiting all airports JL serves domestically. (and the hidden number 0 of the lineup is the special maintainence facility that can be accessed during a tour that should be worth an article itself.)
That’s a great tip on the stamps - I’ll definitely have to check it out!
I could direct you to a Vietjet store near Ho Chi Minh SGN airport!
The store in the airport viewing area at Kansai KIX has an amazing range of brand stuff from all Japanese airlines. Who knew I needed a Fuji Dream tie bar?
You will definitely love the Cathay brick-and-mortar store at Shop 233, 2/F, Cityplaza, 18 Taikoo Shing Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong even more. It's the mall directly connected to Tai Koo MTR station, so do check it out since you love Cathay so much and will be in Hong Kong anyway. =)
And in case you want one more chance airside, the HKG Monocle shop, which is close to the Pier, also has similar Cathay stock (except for the aircraft models). Bought myself a 747 luggage tag that I'd seen at the Cityplaza shop a few days before.
I second that. It has the latest CX merchandise and earn Asia Miles when you make a purchase! Make sure you have the account number handy! I was there a year ago and it's awesome!
Also second the comment about the shop at HKG!
How come we don't have cool 7-11 stores like that in the US?
While any shop for avgeeks are nice, I still prefer the ones in Japan's airports where they have a specific store just for avgeeks. So when you're in Japan, have a look! And don't forget the observation deck too!
That’s not just any apron/runway. That’s a shot of TPE looking from T1 towards T2.
Very cool! Thanks, Ben.
The airline-themed 'merch' section is pretty unique.
If you like this, you’re going to LOVE the Cathay Shop at the Cityplaza mall in Tai Koo, in the eastern part of Hong Kong Island. This 7-Eleven is a small store with co-branded products, while the Cathay Shop is a really posh place in a high-end mall — and now has 80th-anniversary merchandise to match. I can’t resist buying the Chinese New Year toys, model aeroplanes and destination-themed bags and passport holders there.
Another...
If you like this, you’re going to LOVE the Cathay Shop at the Cityplaza mall in Tai Koo, in the eastern part of Hong Kong Island. This 7-Eleven is a small store with co-branded products, while the Cathay Shop is a really posh place in a high-end mall — and now has 80th-anniversary merchandise to match. I can’t resist buying the Chinese New Year toys, model aeroplanes and destination-themed bags and passport holders there.
Another cool avgeek store in Northeast Asia would be the JAL Plaza Flight Shop at the arrivals hall of Haneda Airport Terminal 1. As for me, having visited the Cathay Shop at Cityplaza twice in the past year alone, I really need to check out the Starlux x 7-Eleven shop the next time I’m in Taipei!
P.S.: Ben, a bit nitpicky perhaps, but why do you not write STARLUX in uppercase like you write SWISS? After all, the airline always writes STARLUX in uppercase (as do some other bloggers like Singapore’s MileLion), yet you — and I — write Starlux in sentence case. I write Swiss, too, in sentence case, so why do you write SWISS and Starlux differently?
"If you like this, you’re going to LOVE..."
"P.S.: Ben, a bit nitpicky perhaps, but.."
Can you not post anything gaslight?
You're gaslighting Ben again and again.
Cool store! I am surprised I hadn’t seen their safety video before; super cute!
There a bunch of branded 7-Elevens in Taipei and Taiwan! Some other brands include Snoopy, Sanrio, mofusand, Disney, Ultraman, Pokemon, and so on. Some have more decorations than others!
From what I've found online, it sounds like the Starlux branding with 7-Eleven was to promote their new North American routes from Taiwan.
If you can’t find the Taipei mug you might want to stop by the Starlux store in town. You can also pick up a few model planes.
If they aren’t selling the pilot bomber jackets at the shop, they’re available at the Galacitc Lounge (as of Thursday night when I was there, three on the rack).
Oh dope I’m glad you were able to go!! It felt a bit out of the way when I was last in Taipei. Can’t wait to hear about the rest of the trip!
Where is this place??? Taipei has nearly the worse street addresses, only better than Japan and some rare third world places with no street addresses, just "by the big tree north of the post office".
A map in the article would be a good addition.
The best I can figure is to start from the Capella Taipei, walk south past the Taipei Arena, then go right to diagonal Bade Road. Then either before or after Fuxing N. Road.
BINGO!!!!
The address in the article is incorrect. The correct address is:
No. 149號, DunHua N Rd, Songshan District, not Bode Rd.
On the same major wide north-south street as the Capella on the east side of the street.
how is 149 Dunhua North Road anything difficult???
alex, the article reads "The address is as follows: No. 149, Sec. 2, Bade Rd., Songshan Dist., Taipei City 105. Lucky enough, it’s located just two blocks from the Capella Taipei, which is where we elected to stay"
@ derek -- My apologies, fixed the address, thanks!
No. 149號, DunHua N Rd, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Seriously people complaining about how bad street address system is and is still trying to fix the obsolete system?
"No. 149號, DunHua N Rd, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105" is as obsolete as the address you're trying to fix.
You have handheld GPS devices with accuracy error in few feet. Coordinates, not address, please.
This backwards mindset is exactly why obsolete ATC and pilots are still allowed to cause accidents and loss of lives.
I am a fan of 7Eleven and Starlux so I will check it out next time I am in Taipei. I have great memories eating 7Eleven nigiri while sharing a table with Taiwanese locals.
WOW that's so cool and appealing. Taipei is an amazing, convenient and lively city for tourists. It's a highly free city in the Chinese speaking world, unlike all the terrible censorship in mainland China big, toxic cities! I will definitely check it out this summer.
also have u seen their new special liveries they announced with the artist sorayama?