There are 35 7-Elevens currently open in Manhattan.
30 of those have opened in the past 7 years.
23 have opened in the past 5 years.
And 12 have opened in the past 2 years.
In an interview with NY Magazine called "How 7-Eleven Plans To Put The Bodega Out Of Business", Sean Duffy, 7-Eleven's corporate senior vice-president of development said, "It's part of an overall growth strategy. We saw an opportunity in Manhattan—huge traffic counts, huge pedestrian traffic, [and] the need for convenience."
So basically they're saying New Yorkers want this.
Using Google Maps' new street view time machine, here's photos of what used to be where all those 7-Eleven's are now.
8th Avenue and 25th Street: August 2011
8th Avenue and 25th Street: August 2013
5th Avenue and 23rd Street: May 2009
5th Avenue and 23rd Street: August 2013
3rd Avenue and 20th Street: September 2007
3rd Avenue and 20th Street: August 2013
14th Street Between 2nd and 3rd Avenue: May 2009
14th Street Between 2nd and 3rd Avenue: August 2013
The Bowery: September 2007
The Bowery: August 2013
Grand Street: September 2007
Grand Street: August 2013
Church Street: September 2007
Church Street: August 2013
John Street: April 2009
John Street: August 2013
Broadway between Worth and Duane Street: April 2009
Broadway between Worth and Duane Street: August 2012
Lafayette and Canal Street: April 2009
Lafayette and Canal Street: August 2012
Delancey Street: August 2008
Delancey Street: October 2013
West 3rd Street between 6th Avenue and MacDougal Street: June 2011
West 3rd Street between 6th Avenue and MacDougal Street: August 2013
Broadway between 11th and 12 Street: May 2011
Broadway between 11th and 12 Street: September 2013
14th Street and 8th Avenue: November 2007
14th Street and 8th Avenue: September 2013
7th Avenue and 21st Street: May 2009
7th Avenue and 21st Street: January 2013
5th Avenue and 26th Street: June 2011
5th Avenue and 26th Street: August 2013
8th Avenue and 28th Street: June 2011
8th Avenue and 28th Street: August 2013
Madison Avenue and 33rd Street: May 2009
Madison Avenue and 33rd Street: August 2013
34th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue: June 2011
34th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue: August 2013
8th Avenue and 37th Street: May 2009
8th Avenue and 37th Street: August 2013
8th Avenue and 53rd Street: May 2009
8th Avenue and 53rd Street: September 2013
1st Avenue and 39th Street: September 2009
1st Avenue and 39th Street: September 2013
2nd Avenue and 63rd Street: May 2011
2nd Avenue and 63rd Street: August 2013
1st Avenue and 87th Street: April 2012
1st Avenue and 87th Street: August 2013
Columbus Ave and 89th Street: May 2009
Columbus Ave and 89th Street: August 2013
Fulton Street: June 2011
Fulton Street: August 2013
Broadway and 96th Street: September 2007
Broadway and 96th Street: August 2013
2nd Avenue and 96th Street: July 2011
2nd Avenue and 96th Street: September 2013
42nd Street and 11th Avenue: September 2011
42nd Street and 11th Avenue: January 2013
Avenue A and 11th Street: August 2011
Avenue A and 11 Street: August 2013
All photos via Google Maps.