The Convenient Store 2023

Overview

Move aside, high-falutin' fancy food — it's time for good old-fashioned convenience store grub to take the spotlight. Popping up in the Fed Square forecourt from Friday, March 24–Sunday, April 2 as part of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, The Convenient Store is an ode to the low-brow, high-satisfaction snackage of your local grab-and-go joint, presented by the experts at 7-Eleven. Only this one's stocked with an array of goodies from some of Melbourne's star chefs, producers and eateries, including limited-edition treats and one-off collaborations aplenty.

We're talking about a reuben-inspired pie from the legends at Pie Thief, Piccolina's coffee-infused answer to the Ice Magic ice cream topping, a brand-new limited-release variety of Chappy's Chips, and a super-charged cookie creation courtesy of local baking whizz Miss Trixie.

For those who like it hot, there are a couple of chef-designed sandwiches that come toasted to order — Victor Liong's (Lee Ho Fook) spicy pulled lamb number and a show-stopping plant-based schnitzel sanga by Smith & Daughters' Shannon Martinez. Johnny's Deli will be slinging its classic brekkie tortilla and signature reuben, too.

Also on the shelves, you'll find a specially commissioned sandwich spread by celebrated chef Tom Sarafian, a cherry blossom treat by Tokyo Lamington, and from the Michelin-trained pastry chef behind Luther's Scoops, a decadent ice cream crafted on 7-Eleven banana bread. For an afternoon pick-me-up, you can even enjoy your usual 7-Eleven cuppa reimagined in affogato format.

What's more, from 4–8pm each day, this joint moonlights as a pop-up bar, slinging Slurpee-inspired cocktails spiked with local artisan drops including Nagambie Brewery & Distillery's 3608 Classic Dry Gin and Killik Silver Rum. Other boozy delights include Brick Lane tap brews, Curatif canned cocktails and a range of local vino.