Thank You, Come Again!

“How much is your penny candy?” “Surprisingly expensive!”

I love the Simpsons as much — if not a little more — as anybody, but I have to admit I’m torn over the news (straight from the Richmond Times Dispatch) that the beloved, albeit fictional, Kwik-E-Mart may becoming to a roadside near, well, me:

If all goes as planned, the convenience store chain plans to refit 11 stores across the U.S. — Richmond is an unlikely choice — to resemble the front of the Kwik-E-Mart, the convenience store that Homer and other characters frequent in the classic cartoon TV series.

Customers also will be able to buy products inspired by the nearly two-decades-old show, including KrustyO’s cereal, Buzz Cola and iced Squishees (the cup says Squishee, but the contents will be Slurpee).

Bizarre, right? For all the late-night-stoned-and-drunk moments this will garner (man, am I glad I have no plans to run for office… ever), I just don’t think it will be right without Apu.

–Sara Tenenbaum