For various reasons, the stores are required to have locks. This can be due to local laws and building codes, to labor laws allowing the limited staff time for breaks.

There are 7-11 units that close during night hours, such as one that was in Newbury Park, CA as well as near Elk Grove, CA.

Other than actually having closing hours, the only times that i have seen the front doors locked is when they were doing cleaning of the floors, or a police incident was being investigated.

BTW, this question is also often asked about Denny’s.restaurants and at one time they closed on a Thanksgiving Day. Some locations had to be retrofitted with locks.

Also in case of power failure, or natural disaster, they will close down.

in case of emergency the guy can lock the door.