Quick Answer
Clue: “Five Below or 7-Eleven”
Answer: STORE
Answer length: 5 letters
Position: 8-Across
The New York Times crossword clue “Five Below or 7-Eleven” has the 5-letter answer STORE, as confirmed by NYT Mini answer pages for the January 21, 2026 puzzle.
Why STORE Is the Right NYT Answer
- Both Five Below and 7‑Eleven are well-known retail chains, so the general term that describes either one is a store. The clue lists two brand examples and expects you to supply the broader category they belong to, which is a classic NYT Mini pattern.
- Because the entry needs five letters, STORE fits the grid perfectly and matches the explanations given in dedicated clue-solvers and recap articles for this specific Mini.
What STORE Means in Plain English
- In everyday English, a store is a place where goods are sold to customers—essentially, a retail shop. Five Below operates as a discount specialty store with most items at very low price points, while 7‑Eleven is a global convenience store chain open long hours or 24/7.
- The clue uses those two brand names simply as familiar examples to point you toward that general concept.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Crossings, and Variants
- At 8-Across, the grid entry is S‑T‑O‑R‑E, so crossings give distinctive patterns like S_ORE or _TORE that quickly narrow the options. STORE is a very common piece of crossword fill: it uses ultra-frequent letters and connects nicely with many Down answers, which is why editors like to place it in smaller puzzles such as the Mini.
- You might also see STORE clued as “Shop,” “Place to buy things,” or with other chain examples like “Target or Tesco.”
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue lists two brand names from the same space like Five Below and 7‑Eleven ask what category they share: store, chain, brand, etc., and then match the category word with the grid length.
- Minis often favor simple, high-frequency vocabulary for these category answers (STORE, CHAIN, BRAND), so try those first once you recognize the pattern.
Thinking “examples → general term” is a reliable strategy whenever you see “A or B” in a clue.
