7-Eleven is closing more than 400 stores in the United States and Canada, officials said, crediting fewer sales due to inflation and continued declines in cigarette sales.

The 444 stores to close are among 13,000 stores the convenience chain has in the United States and Canada. A list of stores to close was not released by the company, which announced the plan to shutter the stores during its most recent earnings call late last week.

7-Eleven is not the only store shuttering locations due to declining sales. Walgreens recently announced closures and a host of others to close stores or declare bankruptcy this year, including Hooters, Red Lobster, Bed Bath & Beyond and Big Lots.

Here’s what Arizona shoppers need to know about the 7-Eleven closures and locations in the state.

More Big Lots in Arizona are closing: Here’s which stores are affected and which remain

Will 7-Eleven stores in Arizona close?

The company didn’t release a list of stores and 7-Eleven did not immediately respond to the USA TODAY Network’s request for a list of locations closing.

When will 7-Eleven stores close?

The closures were expected to happen in the fourth quarter of this year, officials said.

Why is 7-Eleven closing stores?

Traffic and sales were challenged “as consumers pull back due to inflationary pressure,” according to 7-Eleven, and consumer cigarette sales continue to decline industry-wide.

To counteract its recent challenges, the company said it would grow its proprietary products, including fresh food and its proprietary beverages, accelerate digital and delivery, including continued growth in its loyalty program and grow and enhance its store network.

Seven & i Holdings, the parent company of 7-Eleven, also said it would bundle some of its “non-core assets” into a new holding company and rename itself ‘7-Eleven Corp’ to emphasize the focus on its profitable convenience stores.

After rejecting a bid in August by the operator of Circle K, Alimentation Couche-Tard, the Japanese operator of 7-Eleven stores is facing pressure to convince investors it can enhance value, saying it undervalued the company and its growth potential.

The new holding company, to be called York Holdings, is set to house 31 subsidiaries, including the group’s superstores business, general goods store Loft, baby goods store Akachan Honpo and the operating company of Denny’s restaurants in Japan.

There hasn’t been too much to get excited about with the Arizona Wildcats football team during the 2024 season.

They are a disappointing 3-3 at the midpoint of the regular season, unable to consistently find their footing. The three losses match their total from 2023, as they have also matched their conference losses from last season with two.

It will take a lot of work for head coach Brent Brennan to turn things around this year in Tuscon. But, when you have a player of Tetairoa McMillan’s caliber on offense, anything is possible.

The talented wide receiver has picked up right where he left off last season as one of the most productive players in the nation.

Through six games he has caught 42 passes for 742 yards, which is the most in the Big 12. He has added four touchdown receptions, as he could reset all his career-highs and re-write the program’s record book.

That level of domination has put McMillan squarely in the mix to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Right now, the only wide receiver who ranks higher than him on most big boards is Travis Hunter of the Colorado Buffaloes, who could be moved to cornerback full-time at the next level.

In a 2025 NFL mock draft done by Jordan Reid of ESPN, Hunter goes No. 2 to the New England Patriots. McMillan has fallen out of the top 10 this time, landing with the New Orleans Saints at No. 12.

“The Saints could go defense here, as more youth is needed on the front. But they also covet receiver help, and the highest-ranked prospect at the position (again, I have Travis Hunter at CB) is McMillan. He is a big-body target who would be an instant complementary option alongside Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. McMillan currently ranks third in the FBS in yards per game (123.7), and he can go up and get it, with terrific skill on 50-50 balls. He also has the flexibility to play in the slot or on the outside,” the NFL draft analyst wrote.

This would be a great landing spot for the Wildcats star. There could be some major changes on the horizon if the team continues to struggle, as head coach Dennis Allen and quarterback Derek Carr could both be out of jobs.

But, being able to work opposite of Chris Olave and with Rashid Shaheed also mixing in, McMillan would be able to operate without extra attention being thrown his way. That is the ideal kind of situation for a rookie wide receiver, as long as the Saints can find a competent quarterback to run the offense.

There is certainly a chance that the Arizona star doesn’t make to New Orleans outside of the top 10, as he is an elite talent. Reid originally had him going No. 9 to the New York Jets, but their trade to acquire Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders led to him changing things up.

Some parts of Arizona are expecting snow this week as a winter-like storm plunges temperatures up to 20 degrees below normal for this time of year.

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists flagged the incoming storm system on Wednesday morning, even though no winter weather warnings have been officially issued. There are still some uncertainties, but meteorologists are confident that a cold weather system will bring widespread showers across northern Arizona, with snow levels lowering on Friday, leading to hazardous travel conditions Friday and Saturday.

“Get ready to pull out those sweaters and jackets! Temperatures will drop 10-20 degrees below normal by Friday, leaving many locations to max out around 40 to 50 degrees. Warmer weather looks to return by next week though,” the NWS office in Flagstaff posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Another post said: “The first Winter-like storm will be impacting northern Arizona late this week and into the weekend. Much colder temperatures, gusty winds, and rain / high-elevation snow expected.”

NWS meteorologist Paige Konieczny told Newsweek that snowfall will remain primarily above 7,000 feet, with more impactful snowfall amounts expected in areas above 8,000 feet.

“This is pretty typical for this time of year,” she said. “We are heading into our winter season, so to get snow here in the middle of October is not completely out of the norm.”

However, the shifting temperatures will feel “dramatic,” Konieczny said, as the region has experienced above-normal temperatures the past few weeks.

“But those temperatures look to be rather short-lived once the storm system moves out of the area,” she said.

Normal temperatures are expected to return next week.

Counties expecting snowfall include Coconino, Apache, Navajo and northern Gila. Heavy snow will remain largely in mountainous areas, with up to 1.5 inches expected in more populated areas.

“The areas seeing higher [snow] levels are mountaintops,” Konieczny said, adding that up to 10 inches of snow is expected in higher elevations.

Since this is likely to be the first snowfall of the season, Konieczny said, there are travel concerns. Also, winds will be strong.

The Arizona forecast comes as other parts of the U.S. are expecting cold temperatures and, in Montana’s case, heavy snow. Earlier this week, freeze warnings and frost advisories were in place across much of the Central and Midwestern U.S., with some warnings in place along the East Coast as well.

“Cooler temperatures, rain and light snow are forecast for the Midwest and portions of the Eastern U.S. early this week as a cold front progresses through,” the NWS said.

On Wednesday morning, some frost advisories and freeze warnings remained in some states, including Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, as well as some parts of the Eastern U.S.