Fans of The Simpsons can now visit the real-life version of the Kwik-E-Mart store that features in the legendary show.
The designers have made it look just like the convenience store in the long-running animated TV series. It opened last Friday in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in the US.
Customers can buy a wide range of Simpsons-themed food, drink and paraphernalia. These include a Squishee drink, a Heat Lamp Hot Dog and – of course – Lard Lad Donuts.
They can also buy memorabilia related to Apu, who owns the Kwik-E-Mart convenience store in the show.
Apu is of Indian heritage and caused a degree of controversy owing to what some saw as ethnic stereotyping. Actor Hank Azaria provided Apu’s distinctive voice and accent.
But whatever the controversy, Apu became one of the show’s best-loved characters. His famous catchphrase, “Thank you, come again!”, is painted on a wall inside the real-life store in Myrtle Beach.
Three generations of fans
Mark Cornell of SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment is one of the store’s developers. He says the first visitors included three generations of a family, all competing over who was the show’s biggest fan.
“To see three generations walk through the door who all love The Simpsons – how can you say that about anything else?” he told CNN affiliate WBTW.
Matt Groening created The Simpsons in the late 1980s. It debuted on December 17, 1989, and has so far run for more than 600 episodes. Its 30th season will begin on September 18 this year.
It is officially America’s longest-running sitcom.
