My Trip to the Kwik-E-Mart

[Gemini Cricket]

Eleven 7-11 stores around the country have been converted to Kwik-E-Marts to promote 'The Simpsons' movie. One of those was in Burbank near me.

I paid them a visit and took some pictures.

The sign out front has been converted to the Kwik-E-mart logo. It isn't just a banner either, it's a plastic sign attached to the sign replacing the other 7-11 logo.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname-3.jpg

The front of the bldg has been converted into Springfield. Relief versions of Bart and Milhouse appear on the roof sharing a Squishee most likely made with all syrup.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_1-3.jpg


Marge hurries off with groceries in her hands. The people installing the overlay were still there. I think they misplaced Marge. I'm thinking she should be hurrying from the Kwik-E-Mart and not towards it... she already has her groceries. The sign for the bank says "Misplacing Decimal Points Since 1945".
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname-4.jpg

The Comic Book Guy is on the other side of the door reading a Radioactive Man comic and eating nachos.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname-2.jpg

Ralphie is in the window eating popsicles.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_3-2.jpg

On the inside, the Kwik-E-Mart has items to sell featured in the TV series. Here are a few:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_2-4.jpg

Buzz Cola:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_1-5.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname-1.jpg

Krusty O's (if you look closely at the box, the metal O that gave Bart a stomach ache is featured):
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_2-1.jpg

Coolers with the logo are for sale also:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_3-1.jpg

They also have Radioactive Man comics for sale at the counter:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_1-1.jpg

I love the details they have from the show itself. Frostilicus is in the freezer... :D
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_1-6.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname-6.jpg

There are cool ads all around the store also:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_3-3.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname-5.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_2-3.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_1-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_2-2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_3.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_1.jpg

Of course, there's the Squishee Machine:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname-7.jpg

Here's a close-up of the cup:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_3-4.jpg

Well that's about it. They were still adding finishing touches here and there. From what an employee was saying it is possible that they are going to get more merchandise and food/drink items to sell. She said something about Duff Beer coming... she wasn't positive though.

All in all, it was totally clever. And I don't know if this was good or bad but nowhere in the store did they mention the movie coming out. The press people there were talking about it, but no posters or anything touting the movie was around. I think it was good, it made you feel like you were in Springfield and not part of an extravagant ad.

This was the best movie advertisement ever. If you get a chance, visit the one in Burbank. I don't know where the others are.

I walked away with a Radioactive Man comic, a box of Krusty-O's and a case of Buzz Cola. It wasn't cheap but hey they're cool to have.

One thing that was a little odd was that the cashier was Indian. I felt kinda weird about that. I wonder if people were making fun of him...

The store was making a killing. Tons of people in and out taking pictures and buying everything Simpsons related in the place. They were making bank, I tell you what.

They had donuts at the counter. Wasn't sure if it was free or for sale, so I left it alone.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_1-7.jpg

Thank you and come again!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/noname_2.jpg

[blueerica]

Hehe, I'd heard that this was going to happen, and I'm fairly excited that it did. I need to seek one out, so that I may get a Squishy

[wendybeth]

You said it, GC- best movie promo ever! I am totally jealous.

[Alex]

I've never been a regular watcher of The Simpsons but it is a pretty cool promotion.

[BarTopDancer]

That's awesome. Thanks for sharing the photos!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yay, it looks cool and fun as I'd hoped. Gotta get to one.

[Disneykat]

That is the greatest transformation of a 7-11 ever. Thanks for sharing GC

[CoasterMatt]

That's super cool... I'll be seeing them at work everyday for quite awhile, but I still have to check out the Kwik E Mart.

[blueerica]

From what I understand, all 7-Elevens are at least going to be carrying some of the items... they just won't have the extreme store makeover that the special "Kwik-E-Marts" will.

This only makes me want Slurpees, which I almost never get. I have a feeling I'll be treating myself to one tomorrow before heading to class.

[madmonkeygirl]

Where exactly is this one? I might head there tomorrow to get a Squishy lmao...

[Ghoulish Delight]

She said something about Duff Beer coming... she wasn't positive though.No such luck, according to this (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070701/ap_on_bi_ge/7_eleven_kwik_e_mart_1;_ylt=AjgUF5kZ6xk5uAcEHJF537 PBaMYA)

But they won't find Duff beer, the brand chugged by Homer Simpson. The movie will be rated PG-13, and selling a Simpson-themed beer "didn't seem to fit," said Rita Bargerhuff, a 7-Eleven marketing executive. "That was a tough call, but we want to make sure it's considered good, responsible fun."

[lashbear]

I'll have to se if we're geting this as well. What fun !

Do you think they've specially hired the Indian staff for the promo ?

[Gemini Cricket]

Where exactly is this one? I might head there tomorrow to get a Squishy lmao...
Olive Ave in Burbank. I found it on my way to the Burbank mall. It's right next to the Wherehouse that's now an FYE.
:)

[BarTopDancer]

Is there a list of the locations somewhere?

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I haven't been able to find a list but I did read that only 11 of their stores are getting the full treatment.

[madmonkeygirl]

ty GC i might take a drive there tomorrow afternoon since i have to get gas in the car anyways for the week...lmao we'll see if i actually have the energy to get in the car and go over there...lmao i'm dyin to get a Squishy lmao...and i know exactly where that is i think

[Gemini Cricket]

Olive Ave in Burbank. I found it on my way to the Burbank mall. It's right next to the Wherehouse that's now an FYE.
:)
Olive Ave and Verdugo.
:)

[lizziebith]

It's where Olive and Verdugo collide in that triangle. We just went and got squishees, the cola and the cooler, but they were sold out of the Krusty-Os. The place was mobbed! The workers had KwikEMart shirts on!:snap: :snap:

ETA: since hubby did a Treehouse of Horror comic called "Squish Thing" I'm getting a pic of him with his squishee cup for his site! :D

[mousepod]

Here's where they're at: Manhattan, Bladensburg, Md., (outside Washington, D.C.); Orlando, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Henderson, Nev., Los Angeles and Burbank, Calif.; Mountain View, CA, (outside San Francisco) and Seattle. The 12th 7-Eleven Kwik-E-Mart is located in Coquitlam, British Columbia.

[blueerica]

Seems as though Myspace got Simpsonized...

[Strangler Lewis]

No such luck, according to this (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070701/ap_on_bi_ge/7_eleven_kwik_e_mart_1;_ylt=AjgUF5kZ6xk5uAcEHJF537 PBaMYA)

If there's anrated DVD, they'll release the Duff and various low-end bars around the country will be decked out as Moe's.

[Snowflake]

Hmm, I think this is worht a side trip to Mountain View for me this week.

Thanks GC, rreally great photos!

[cirquelover]

Thanks for the photos GC! Now my son wants the comic book.

He has been begging to see this movie but I have only allowed him to watch 1-2 episodes. Actually I think we were across from DL and had no kid channels so I let him watch. Dad says "What's the harm in letting him see the movie?" I don't know yet.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

If he's watched 2 episodes, the movie will probably fly right over his head. Just a guess.

[Alex]

And if the reason you don't let him watch the TV show is the content then I suspect the movie is going to pretend at least the same problems and probably more. It is rated PG-13 so I imagine they've at least gone with language not allowed on Fox.

[wendybeth]

I think The Simpsons is probably one of the more benign shows on today- I've seen stronger content on the Disney Channel. Let him watch it- it won't warp him too much.

[Alex]

I don't know how it is I typed "pretend" when the word I meant is "have". Aphasia sucks.

I agree it is a benign show (hard to believe the ruckus it caused all those many years ago) and with the characters so firmly entrenched the movie probably doesn't go as far as they would have a decade ago but it probably won't be as benign as the show.

[katiesue]

Maddy loved it until the episode where Mary Poppins was killed then she had nightmares for a week and we had to cut her off.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I don't know how it is I typed "pretend" when the word I meant is "have". Aphasia sucks.Well, I translated it to "present", so perhaps that's where your brain was going.

[blueerica]

Aphasia sucks.


You have aphasia?

While I haven't suffered any brain damage, I've always likened some of the more mild cases of aphasia to something I've experienced that some other former stutterers do, which is often having the right word on the tip of my tongue, or just using the wrong word entirely. I can usually describe everything about that word, even synonyms, but have difficulty finding the one I'm thinking of.

I've just accepted it, and it's become almost humorous to me, now - so I haven't bothered looking it up further than the one time I got super obsessed with it.

[blueerica]

Oh, and sorry for the massive off-topic.

[Alex]

No, I don't have aphasia. One problem with typing almost as fast as I can think is that nothing slows me down once I get going and sometimes my fingers and brain get out of synch (I'm really big on homophones too; I've come up with some doozies).

But the worst ones I just blame on an undiagnosed stroke.

[Babette]

Great pics, GC, great pics. Thanks for sharing and reporting. Maybe I will have to meet you for lunch some day soon and you can take me there :)

[Matterhorn Fan]

I just found out about the one in Orlando on the news here. I missed the photos, but googled it and found this link: http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/7/2/orlando_7eleven_becomes_kwikemart.html

It sounds like it's near Disney.

[xharryb]

I just found out about the one in Orlando on the news here. I missed the photos, but googled it and found this link: http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/7/2/orlando_7eleven_becomes_kwikemart.html

It sounds like it's near Disney.

12298 Apopka-Vineland Road
Lake Beuna Vista
:cool:

I looked it up so I can make an adventure over that way at some point.

Eventually I want to pick up a few souvenirs, but I had to stop yesterday and at least get a blue Squishee. MmmmmmmmSquisheeeeeee....

[innerSpaceman]

ooooh, there's a Kwik-E-Mart just a few miles from me at Venice and Sepulveda. My ex was there on opening day (she lives a few blocks away) and said it was a mad house. No place to park, if she hadn't been able to walk. Great reviews from her, too, though.

zapp and I are going to hit it 4th of July (early, we hope). He'll be in heaven.

[AllyOops!]

We'll be headed there this weekend, hopefully. I was just telling my boyfriend that there is one located in Burbank. Thank you, GC & lizziebith for sharing the whereabouts! My boyfriend's dad is a Seargant for Burbank PD and I was like, "call him! find out where it's located!!"

Now we don't have to bother dad while he's working, which would have been kind of rude to begin with. :p

I went to 7-11 2 weeks ago & when I went to the Suckie machine, I noticed that the cups were identical to the Squishee cups that they feature on The Simpsons. So cute!! Of course, I had to get my Suckie in the Squishee cup!

I'm an absolute, total Simpsons fanatic. Even my Avatar was featured on the Simpsons. It's a logo Homer wore on his tee-shirt while visiting Brazil. Hahaha!! :D

[SacTown Chronic]

Who needs the Kwik-E-Mart? I doooooooo!



Special thanks to mousepod for giving the heads up about a Kwik-E-Mart in Mountain View. Since we would be driving through Mountain View on the 101, I knew we had to stop in and check it out.

[Chernabog]

I went there with LoT-ter skinnylycan last week it was totally fun!!!! I mean, it was just like a 5 minute stop off but I am so glad we did it, it was an attraction just 10 minutes from my house. They didn't have a lot of the merch that day that GC was able to get, but I did get some sickly sweet pink donuts and a squishee!

[Babette]

I still have not gone :(

I found this list of 101 Greatest Simpsons Quotes (http://blogzarro.com/?p=223) that seemed appropriate for this thread. I know many of us will disagree with the author's choices and have many other lines to add.

Ralph Wiggum: (damn breaks, flood waters carry household furniture out in the street, Ralphie wakes up) "I think I wet my bed!"

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Yes, many of those are great ("... but why did I have the bowl, Bart. WHY DID I HAVE THE BOWL?") but many greats are missing.

HOMER
No TV and no beer make Homer something something.

MARGE
Go crazy?

HOMER
Don't mind if I do!

[Ghoulish Delight]

In this house, we obey the laws of thermodynamics!

[mousepod]

What about:

If The Flintstones has taught us anything, it's that pelicans can be used to mix cement.

[AllyOops!]

"Somebody took my juice money"

"Dental plan..Lisa needs braces! Dental plan..Lisa needs braces!"

"May God have mercy on your gas-sniffing, orphan-beating Souls"

"Nibbles, chew through my ball sack"

I LOVE the boo-urns quote. I was just dying laughing over that not too long ago & temporarily had it typed under my screenname here at LoT. Also, one of the episodes that had me laughing daily recently was the one where the Simpsons travel to Brazil & the lifeguard on the beach refers to Homer & Bart as "Americans" when he calls out to them. Homer asks the lifeguard how he knew that they were Americans, and at that point they close in on Homer's teeshirt and the logo on it is the picture now featured in my Avatar. "Try And Stop Us". I nearly died.

I turn on one of the Simpsons DVD's almost every weekend while I'm cleaning and it's programmed into my Tivo. I'm obsessed.

For every quote on that list, I was able to remember each episode. Sometimes I feel like the biggest geek because a Simpsons quote makes it into so many of the conversations that I hold. I even have a picture of Homer on my bulletin board in my office. :)

[CoasterMatt]

I got strangled by Homer again today...

[Gemini Cricket]

And as kwikly as it went up, it is now gone.
I passed by the building last night and it was a 7-11 again.
:(

They should have kept it up longer, there were still lines to get in on Monday.

[lizziebith]

We watched as they changed the signs out... :( It was great while it lasted!

[Matterhorn Fan]

Gone already?

I'm glad I didn't procrastinate going to the one here!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Annoyed Grunt!

[innerSpaceman]

Awww. Well, I'm glad zapp and I had fun on our first and only visit.


Thanks again, GC, for the Buzz and Kruty-O's. It was better than getting them when we actually hit the Kwik-E-Mart ... because your delivery was the day before we saw the movie, and re-energized our Simpsons excitement.

[Morrigoon]

Aw jeez, I just passed by it on Sunday! Speaking of which, just a few blocks away is an AWESOME hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant called Frontier Wok with orange chicken to die for.

There was still a line around the corner on Sunday

[Gemini Cricket]

I know it, they should have kept it open a little longer. Lines for a 7-11 are a good thing for that 7-11. I mean, when was the last time anyone lined up to get into a 7-11? Uh never. :D

[Chernabog]

Kindly pay for your purchases and GET OUT and Come Again! :)

Do they still have ANY Simpsons stuff left, or are the pink donuts all gone?

[Gemini Cricket]

Dunno.
Didn't go in.

[Morrigoon]

I know it, they should have kept it open a little longer. Lines for a 7-11 are a good thing for that 7-11. I mean, when was the last time anyone lined up to get into a 7-11? Uh never. :D

Maybe they should've sold Harry Potter books? ;)

[katiesue]

Dunno.
Didn't go in.

Why not? ;)

[Gemini Cricket]

Maybe they should've sold Harry Potter books? ;)
Exactly. :D
Why not? ;)
Too busy trying to get to stupid Costco before their stupid pharmacy closed...
:D

[mousepod]

Exactly. :D

Too busy trying to get to stupid Costco before their stupid pharmacy closed...
:D

Fantastic! There's Stupid Costco in the LA Area! I was worried that when we reupped our Stupid membership it would be a waste of money.

[CoasterMatt]

There's a Stupid Costco down the street from us

and I had a pink frosted donut at the 7-11 on Friday.

[Kevy Baby]

Fantastic! There's Stupid Costco in the LA Area! I was worried that when we reupped our Stupid membership it would be a waste of money.There are 48 Stupid Costcos within a 50 mile radius of downtown LA (http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/Locator.aspx)

[mousepod]

Great! Heather needs to get some Stupid contact lenses soon.

[Kevy Baby]

Stupid 'ol Heather :D