Oh, Thank Heaven For ... Kwik-E-Mart

Jul 02, 11:40 AM

Current Headlines: A landmark of the Simpsons' fictional hometown became real as a dozen 7-Eleven convenience stores across the United States transformed into Kwik-E-Marts.

The stores became life-sized versions -- from facade to products to cutout cartoon customers -- of the Kwik-E-Mart owned Apu Nahasapeemapetilon in The Simpsons animated TV series and pending Simpsons Movie.

The 20th Century Fox studio was looking for something that's never been done before, 7-Eleven spokeswoman Margaret Chabris said, explaining a California 7-Eleven was rumored to have provided inspiration for Kwik-E-Mart. The 7-Eleven chain has 7,200 stores.

Buzz Cola, KrustyO's, Squishies, Radioactive Man comic books and Sprinkilicious Donuts leapt from animation to reality. Bowing to the movie's PG-13 rating, Duff Beer won't be available during the promotion running through July.

Regulars at a Kwik-E-Mart-nee-7-Eleven in Bladensburg, Md., thought their 7-Eleven was under new ownership, said Joy Pico, 7-Eleven's area manager for the chain based in Dallas.

A lot of customers are saying, 'What happened to 7-Eleven?' Pico told the Washington Times. Once they're told it's still 7-Eleven and only a promotion, people are calling their friends and telling them to come by.