Vipul Patel has a degree in computer science, but that was always his backup plan. Born with the soul of an entrepreneur, Patel knew he wanted to own his own business but wanted the safety net of a computer background “because you can always use that knowledge, whatever the field.” It’s unclear whether that includes the field of filling a Slurpee dispenser, but Patel now owns four businesses, the most recent of which is his–and Ann Arbor’s–second 7-Eleven, which opened in the former Austin & Warburton space on South Main in September.
Patel, thirty-two, started looking around for franchise opportunities in 2005. He researched a number of them, including Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway, and finally lit upon 7-Eleven, opening his first location in Westland in 2005. Soon he was doing well enough to start buying other businesses: first, a gas station in Livonia, and then, three years ago, the Blue Front party store at State and Packard.
He says he’d always wanted to open a second 7-Eleven, and when the opportunity came along he jumped at the chance. He lucked into a cool-looking space, a onetime Kroger store with curved, Art Deco lines.
Patel lives in Canton and divides his time among his four businesses, but if he has his way he’ll be spending even more of it in Ann Arbor. He wants to open more 7-Elevens, and he wants to open his next one here.
7-Eleven, 704 S. Main, 913-1061.
Daily 24 hours. 7-eleven.com
