Many a commuter seeking morning coffee and Spam musubi for the road, or customer desperately in need of a cheese-sauce-covered hot dog have no doubt had their jaws drop upon seeing the Kaneohe 7-Eleven store not only closed, but cleaned out of all its merchandise and fixtures.

“Unfortunately our lease expired,” said human-resources manager Blake Yoko­take, spokes­man for Seven-Eleven Hawaii Inc.

The store closed last week after having been in that spot for nearly 20 years. “If we could have maybe worked something out, we would have stayed,” but the company is now in search of a new Kaneohe location.

Not only that, “we are in growth mode,” Yoko­take said. “We are actively looking for opportunities all over Oahu.”

Some opportunities already are close to fruition, such as a Beachwalk store set to open later this year across from the new Hard Rock Cafe, he said.

“We’re also looking at a site downtown, maybe somewhere on Nim­itz. … There are at least three sites we’re planning on opening,” he said.

With two 7-Eleven stores in Kailua and two in Wai­ma­nalo, the company is absolutely interested in finding a new spot in Kane­ohe.

The now-closed store’s employees, about a dozen, were absorbed by other locations and will have the first shot at working in any new Kane­ohe store, Yoko­take said.

In the meantime, droopy, undercaffeinated commuters can get their java jolt on at another gas station-connected convenience store a driveway or two farther down Kame­ha­meha Highway.

Bill’s back

Locally produced automotive TV show “Ohana Road” returns to the airwaves Sunday on a new station after a yearlong hiatus.

The loss of sight in his right eye dictated the off-air break for executive producer Bill Maloney, who will nevertheless return with his “A Bunch of Maloney” commentary segment. He has remained active with the monthly Auto Lunch Bunch gatherings at the Waikiki Yacht Club.

The host this time around is Jordan Segundo, former “American Idol” contestant and stable-member at the show’s new home, KHON-TV. His co-host is local actress and model Rachel Pacarro.

“As usual we will cover everything usual,” Maloney quipped, including” new car models, car people, car shows and everything unusual in the car world such as cars that fly and go underwater.”

Ferrari is among the companies developing a flying car, though some of us are still awaiting the jet packs we were promised circa the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Celebrity guest segments also will be included in the new iteration of “Ohana Road,” which made its debut on KITV in 2003 and aired for some 300 weeks and won several accolades.

The home base for the new version of “Ohana Road” remains scenic Magic Island — and the show will air Sundays at 5:30 p.m. beginning this weekend.

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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Advertiser. Reach her by e-mail at erika@staradvertiser.com.