The new mobile model is also being considered for use in disaster-stricken areas.

The future of Japanese convenience stores may be on wheels.

Located at the south side of the gymnasium at Ebina Sports Park in Kanagawa Prefecture, a new type of trailer-style Lawson convenience store opened for business on August 27. It’s slated to be in operation through March 31 as the chain tests its viability to make an impact on the market. Not having a fixed physical building lowers the cost and allows the chain to make inroads in places that were previously inaccessible and lacking konbini, as Japanese convenience stores are fondly nicknamed. Plus, as it’s portable and relatively easy to set up, officials are taking into account its serious potential to be at the forefront of relief efforts for when disasters such as earthquakes strike across the country.

▼ The new trailer-style Lawson konbini

The interior is about one-fifth the size of an ordinary Lawson store with a total length of 12.2 meters (40 feet).  It carries around 500 items for sale including prepared foods such as bento, onigiri, fried foods, and desserts, as well as drinks and other daily necessities. A 6.1-meter (20-foot) long kitchen/office space is also attached where the foods are prepared. However, some things have to go given the limited space, so this branch is missing the usual ATM, copy machine, and Loppi ticket kiosk found at regular Lawson store locations.

▼ The total area of the store space is a snug 33.60 square meters (361.7 square feet).

Time will tell if this new type of Lawson proves viable in the long run among the already oversaturated konbini market with new contenders popping up every so often. However, given the weight of Lawson’s name as one of the “Big 3” konbini and the uniquely positioned ability of this mobile model to be accessible in times of need, we’ll tentatively say that it looks like the future’s on wheels.

S0urce: Lawson via Yahoo! Japan News
Images: Lawson 
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