BILLUND, Denmark & SPRINGFIELD --While it does play on negative stereotypes of the convenience-store industry, the Kwik-E-Mart from The Simpsons has definitely found a place in pop-culture history. And the c-store industry has come a long way since the Kwik-E-Mart debuted on the show in 1990, taking much of the sting out of the exaggerated portrayal of less-than-representative operator Apu Nahasapeemapetilon and his poorly run store.
In 2007, as part of a promotion for The Simpsons Movie, 7-Eleven Inc. converted 11 c-stores to the Kwik-E-Mart "brand," including a temporary façade and merchandise including KrustyO's cereal, Buzz Cola and iced Squishees (Slurpees).
Now LEGO--a pop-culture phenomenon in its own right--has come out with its version of the Kwik-E-Mart. On Twitter, it announced, "The iconic Simpsons Kwik-E-Mart exclusive LEGO set and the second series of LEGO Minfigures are coming May 2015!".
"Welcome to The Kwik-E-Mart--your one-stop shop for convenience foods at inconvenient prices!", the press release says.
It continues, "This highly detailed and iconic LEGO version of The Simpsons store is packed with more rich, colorful details than a Mr. Burns birthday cake has candles! Walk under the huge Kwik-E-Mart sign and join Homer, Marge and Bart as they browse the aisles filled with beauty products, diapers, dog food, pastries, fruits, vegetables and more--including Krusty-O's and Chef Lonelyheart's Soup for One.
"Then head over to the refrigerated cases where you'll find Buzz Cola, chocolate milk, various other drinks and snacks… and frozen Jasper! There's also a Buzz Cola soda fountain, juice dispensers, coffee machine, arcade games, ATM and stacks of Powersauce boxes.
"At the counter, Apu is ready to tempt you with a variety of printed magazines, comic books, cards, tofu hot dogs, freshly expired donuts and his ever-popular hallucination-inducing Squishees."
It will cost some "doh!" to buy the LEGO Kwik-E-Mart--the kit is priced at $199.99 in the United States.
Click here to view the full press release and photos.
Separately, Twentieth Century FOX Consumer Products in partnership with FXX, have declared 2015 "The Year of the Kwik-E-Mart" and will host a series of activations "true to the playful spirit of the longest-running scripted show in television."
It is transforming a food truck into a Kwik-E-Mart on wheels to engage and delight fans around the country. The first stop on the Kwik-E-Mart Truck Tour will be at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas on March 14-15 kicking off SXSW Interactive 2015.
While the Kwik-E-Mart Truck will not actually offer food, The Kwik-E-Mart Truck will offer free Squishees in two exclusive flavors--Not So Very Cherry and Give 'Em The Razz.
It will offer "Simpsons World" experience demos, all 552 episodes and a Kwik-E-Photo Booth interactive social experience. It will roll out new products throughout the year.
Its official hashtag is #KwikETruck.
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