in 1927, southland ice company employee john jefferson green began selling eggs, milk, and bread from one of 16 ice house storefronts in dallas, with permission from one of southland's founding directors, joe c. thompson, sr. although small grocery stores and general merchandisers were available, thompson thought that selling products such as bread and milk in convenience stores would lower the need for customers to travel long distances for basic items. he eventually bought the southland ice company and turned it into southland corporation, which made sure the stores in dallas were doing it right.