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Kwik-E-Mart

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Kwik-E-Mart
SeriesThe Simpsons
First appearance"The Telltale Head" (1990)
Last appearanceSeason 31 (2019–2020)[episode needed]
In-universe information
Other name(s)Quick-E-Mart
TypeConvenience store
LocationSpringfield, United States
OwnerApu Nahasapeemapetilon
Key peopleSanjay Nahasapeemapetilon

The Kwik-E-Mart (spelled "Quick-E-Mart" in "Bart the General") is a convenience store in the animated television series The Simpsons. It is a parody of American convenience stores, such as 7-Eleven and Cumberland Farms, and depicts many of the stereotypes about them.

It is notorious for its high prices and the poor quality of its merchandise. It is run by an Indian-American named Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.[1] It first appeared in the 1990 episode "The Telltale Head" and has since become a common setting in The Simpsons. The Simpsons family are regular customers.

In July 2007, eleven 7-Eleven locations in the United States and one in Canada were transformed into Kwik-E-Marts as part of a special promotion for The Simpsons Movie. Also in 2007, gift shops modeled after the "Kwik-E-Marts" were opened in Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood, where they are a companion to "The Simpsons Ride".

Role in The Simpsons

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In The Simpsons, the Kwik-E-Mart is a convenience store that sells the usual fare at extraordinarily high prices,[2] including the always popular Squishee.[3] The backstory is that the Kwik-E-Mart chain was started somewhere in the North Pole.[2] The Springfield Kwik-E-Mart is operated by an Indian American character named Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, who runs the store with his brother Sanjay and is a caricature of the stereotypical "foreign born" convenience store clerk.[1] Apu proudly gouges customers and sells tainted merchandise, such as rotten meat, expired milk, or tins with the label missing.[2][4][5] The Kwik-E-Mart rarely closes; at one point Apu shuts the store for five minutes to attend a party and inadvertently locks Hans Moleman inside.[6] The Kwik-E-Mart is quite often the target of robbers, leading to Apu having been shot on several occasions and as a result having almost missed work.[2][7][8] On one occasion, Marge Simpson mentioned that because of the frequency of shootings, it is only a $100 fine. In the fifth season episode "Homer and Apu", Apu loses his job at the Kwik-E-Mart and the two characters visit the corporate CEO (voiced by Harry Shearer) in the Indian Himalayan mountains.[2]

Real-world versions

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7-Eleven promotion

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A 7-Eleven "Kwik-E-Mart" in Seattle in 2007, one of 12 stores temporarily converted so to promote The Simpsons Movie.

In July 2007, convenience store chain 7-Eleven converted 11 of its stores in the United States and one in Canada (Coquitlam) into Kwik-E-Marts to promote The Simpsons Movie. The concept was first visualized in 2006 by Fox's advertising agency, and the approximately 10 million dollar (US) cost of the promotion was borne by 7-Eleven.[9] Another part of the promotion was a contest where customers who purchased a slurpee or sandwich also received a coded game piece that could be entered into a website. The grand prize of the contest was to be animated into an episode of The Simpsons.[9] Prior to July, the promotion had long been known but the locations were kept a secret until the morning of July 1, when the 12 stores were made over with industrial foam, vinyl and Kwik-E-Mart signs.[10]

These 12 locations, as well as the majority of other North American 7-Elevens, sold products found in The Simpsons, such as "Buzz Cola", "Krusty-O's", "Squishees", pink frosted "Sprinklicious doughnuts" and other Simpsons-themed merchandise. The Squishees were Slurpees that are sold in special collector cups and the Krusty-O's were made by Malt-O-Meal.[10] Several other 7-Eleven items, such as sandwiches, were sold in Simpsons-themed packaging.[10] It was decided that Duff Beer would not be sold due to the movie being rated PG-13, and the promoters wanted to have "good, responsible fun," though it was noted that it was a tough decision.[10] However, a Duff Energy Drink was released in place of the Duff Beer.[11]

The promotion resulted in a 30% increase in profits for the changed 7-Eleven stores.[12] Many of the stores sold out of their special Simpsons products within a few days of the start of the promotion.[13] The conversions lasted through early August, when the stores were converted back to 7-Elevens.[14]

There was a mild controversy when the promotion offended members of the Indian-American community who felt that Apu is a caricature that plays on too many negative stereotypes. Despite this, 7-Eleven reported that many of its Indian employees have reacted positively to the idea,[9] although it was noted that it was "not a 100 percent endorsement."[10]

Universal Studios

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A Kwik-E-Mart at Universal Studios Florida

On October 17, 2007, a gift shop that was modeled after a Kwik-E-Mart was opened at Universal Studios Florida. One also opened at Universal Studios Hollywood at a later time.[15] They replaced the old Back to the Future gift shop[16] and supplement The Simpsons Ride, which opened in Spring 2008. The stores sell Simpsons-related merchandise like Flaming Moe's Energy Drinks[15] and Squishees.[17]

Broadway At The Beach

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On August 17, 2018, a gift shop modeled after a Kwik-E-Mart opened at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The gift shop is placed at the exit of a 4D ride based on The Simpsons and is housed in a replica of The Aztec theatre from the series,[18] which opened in 2019.[19] The store sells Buzz Cola, Lard Lad Donuts, and Squishees along with merchandise from the show.[20]

While no official statement has been made to date, as of late April/early May, 2024, the store, as well as the attached 4-D theater have been permanently closed. The attractions no longer appear on the Broadway at the Beach website, and an online petition has been created to reopen the attractions. Google also lists the attraction as permanently closed, and there a couple Reddit posts indicating the closure as well.

References

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  1. ^ a b Turner 2004, p. 330.
  2. ^ a b c d e Daniels, Greg; Kirkland, Mark (February 10, 1994). "Homer and Apu". The Simpsons. Season 05. Episode 13. Fox.
  3. ^ McGrath, Dan; Lynch, Jeffrey (November 18, 1993). "Boy-Scoutz N the Hood". The Simpsons. Season 05. Episode 08. Fox.
  4. ^ O'Donnell, Steve; Moore, Steven Dean (February 8, 1998). "The Joy of Sect". The Simpsons. Season 09. Episode 13. Fox.
  5. ^ Goldreyer, Ned; Dietter, Susie (March 8, 1998). "Lisa the Simpson". The Simpsons. Season 09. Episode 17. Fox.
  6. ^ Reardon, Jim (April 14, 1996). "22 Short Films About Springfield". The Simpsons. Season 07. Episode 21. Fox.
  7. ^ Gould, Dana; Michels, Pete (May 22, 2002). "Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge". The Simpsons. Season 13. Episode 22. Fox.
  8. ^ Omine, Carolyn; Kruse, Nancy (May 8, 2005). "A Star Is Torn". The Simpsons. Season 16. Episode 18. Fox.
  9. ^ a b c Josh Grossberg (July 2, 2007). "Cowabunga! 7-Elevens Get Kwik-E Makeover". E! News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  10. ^ a b c d e "7-Eleven Becomes Kwik-E-Mart for 'Simpsons Movie' Promotion". Associated Press. July 1, 2007. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2007.
  11. ^ "Duff Energy Drink". xoxide.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  12. ^ Gail Schiller (July 6, 2007). "D'oh! 'Simpsons' limits tie-in partners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 8, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  13. ^ "Kwik-E-Mart Comes to Life". ABC News. July 3, 2007. Archived from the original on September 17, 2007. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  14. ^ Jenn Dolari (August 10, 2007). "Fadza! Damn yoo Fadza!". Jenn Dolari's LiveJournal blog. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  15. ^ a b Brady MacDonald (November 12, 2007). "Simpsons Kwik-E-Mart opens at Universal Studios". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007. Retrieved November 10, 2007.
  16. ^ Rosario Santiago (October 28, 2007). "The Simpsons: Springfield's Kwik-E-Mart Opens in Universal Studios". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  17. ^ Dewayne Bevil (October 26, 2007). "Simpsons' Kwik-E-Mart gets the Universal seal of Apu-val". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 18, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  18. ^ "Calling all Simpsons show fans: This new MB attraction features the cartoon's world". The Sun News. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  19. ^ Blondin, Alan (April 1, 2019). "Kwik-E-Mart has company: Simpsons in 4D theater has opened at Broadway at the Beach". The Sun News. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  20. ^ "D'oh! Kwik-E-Mart from 'The Simpsons' opens in South Carolina". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. August 27, 2018. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
Bibliography
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