I drove into the city this afternoon.. I just HAD TO GO to... the Kwik-E-Mart
Not the 7-Eleven.. there's enough of them out here for that... over 6,000 ... no... the Kwik-E-Mart
Since July 2, 7-Eleven has transformed 12 (11 in the U.S... there's that one in Canada) of its convenience stores into caricatures of the Kwik-E-Mart widely recognized as part of a promotion for the soon-to-be-released "The Simpsons Movie." And it's only going to last until the end of the month...
Out of the 11 converted 7-Elevens in the entire country, ONE is here in Chicago (the others: New York City; Dallas; Denver; Burbank, Calif.; Los Angeles; Henderson, Nev.; Orlando, Fla.; Mountain View, Calif.; Seattle; and Bladensburg, Md.)
WHAT a WONDERFUL trip and experience!!!
First of all, it's hard to comprehend any company that would be willing to replace ALL of it's logos and its very image for an animated movie, and yet that's what they did. The place was SWARMING with fans, starting in the parking lot.. gathering to take pictures of the main Kwik-E-Mart sign (looking as if it were hand-drawn on a tarp over the old 7-Eleven sign)... the exterior re-painted... new signage... every logo on the glass covered with the Kwik-E-Mart logo.
Inside the store was a madhouse, and yet somehow no where near out of control. People walking the aisles... looking at the signs... looking for products...
Up front was CASES and CASES of Buzz Cola against the glass... I grabbed two cans... over a row of just Simpsons trinkets (bobbleheads, talking pens, shorts?).
I was sent with only one request from Carol, one that I could EASILY satisfy judging by the display case toward the back of the store - pink donuts with sprinkles. (I grabbed 4 and put them in a bag... along with my 4 cans of Buzz Cola)
I couldn't help it.. I was looking around .. taking pictures of anything that jumped out at me as odd...
Back in the corner, I could see it... a soda fountain dispenser, with a big add on the face for Buzz Cola...
And next to it, something I couldn't pass up -
the Squishee Machine...
piles of Squishee cups, too... this had to be the busiest spot in the store... must... get... a Squishee... got a cup.. wait.. if I put a cup OVER the cup, no one would know.. and I could save the cup... mmmmm...
Went to the checkout counter. On the front was rows and rows of radioactive Man comic books... Had to get a few of those too... as I balanced the Squishee... cans of Buzz... donuts...
What a FUN place to be, if only for a few weeks... before it disappears again into the 7-Eleven landscape..
2005- Non productive
2003- Ah... alone and quiet...
2002- Hot dogs