Students come from all across the country and even the world to attend the University of Arizona. Some come for the world class academics, some come for the cutting edge research opportunities, and others come for the nationally ranked athletic programs. What many fail to realize, however, is that many students actually come for the vibrant and thriving selection of convenience stores that the UA offers.
The vast selection on where to go for that 89-cent soft drink attracts hardcore convenience store junkies from around the world to the Tucson area. The convenience store scene is just getting better here in Tucson, with some sort of dumpy gas station popping up on just about every street corner. The UA campus has plenty of convenience stores nearby and this ranking should help you figure out where to go next time you suddenly crave a crappy cup of coffee at 2 a.m.
1. QuikTrip
Just a few short miles away from the main UA campus lies a convenience store destination unlike any other. Walking into a QuikTrip makes you feel like a king with all the power in the world. Buying a cheap, convenient drink from this wonderful store forces you to sit back, relax and ultimately realize that life is good. QuikTrip gives you all the convenience of a convenience store without any of the depressing people or strange smells usually found at these places. No wonder it made the top spot on the list.
2. Circle K
When Tucsonans think of a convenience store, Circle K is probably the first thing that pops into their minds. That might be because it seems like you literally can’t walk five feet in Tucson without running into a Circle K. Still, the feeling of sitting back and enjoying a polar pop is tough to rival. However, Circle K’s are a gamble.
Some are incredibly nice and clean to the point where the Queen of England could walk in and buy a soda, while others are incredibly run-down and disgusting to the point where you walk out of them wondering what diseases you just caught. Still, nothing captures the essence of a convenience store quite like a Circle K.
3. U-Mart
The UA Student Union even has its very own convenience store, good old U-Mart. U-Mart has prices so high no average college student could possibly afford them and offers overpriced breakfast burritos that stick to the tin foil they are wrapped in.
But hey, if you are ever in the mood to pay $5-6 for a small cup of mac and cheese, this is your place. Still, it makes the ranking because it is indeed on campus, creating extra convenience as far as location, even if the prices are nowhere near as convenient.
4. 7-Eleven
If you end up at 7-Eleven anytime before 2 am, you already know you are having an awful day. And if you find yourself there after 2 am, you are most likely still having an awful day.
But I don’t blame you because there really is no better cure for an awful day than an extra large cherry slurpee. 7-Eleven is certainly no Circle K, and odds are you will start to hate yourself immediately upon entering, but it is still an important part of the UA convenience store culture.
5. Quik Mart
Quik Mart is just one of those things that probably should not be there but still is anyway. If you absolutely have to stop at a Quik Mart, do so quickly and efficiently and get out as quickly as you can. You do not want to be there longer than you need to be. Just grab whatever you came there for, and never forget the fact that there are far better convenience stores out there.
Of course, this list does not include every single store that makes up the large, complex network of convenience stores near the UA, but this should give convenience store die-hards some idea on where to go to get that adrenaline rush that can only be triggered by cheap beverages and poor quality food. Luckily, the UA surrounding area is full of convenience store culture.
