It seems that one of the 7-11’s being converted into a Kwik-E-Mart to promote The Simpsons Movie is on the other side of the Beltway in Bladensburg, Maryland:
The workday is over for Abel Cordova but it’s just beginning for his wife, Carmen. This is where they snatch a few moments together, at the coffee bar of the 7-Eleven on Kenilworth Avenue in Bladensburg.
He lifts a carafe under the sign that says “Horchata Coffee” and fills a 16-ounce plastic foam cup to the brim, while his wife stirs hazelnut-flavored cream into hers. On the way in, they didn’t notice the plywood encasing the facade. Nor did they realize that by Monday morning, the convenience store would be transformed into a replica of the one in the hit Fox cartoon series.
“The Simpsons?” Abel asks, while Carmen shrugs her shoulders. The cartoon, a 7-Eleven executive explains. His eyes light up with recognition. “Ah, the cartoon,” he repeats.
The franchise, one of two owned by former 7-Eleven manager Berhane Kebebe, was chosen by corporate executives as one of 12 to be turned into temporary Kwik-E-Marts and stocked with Simpsons products.
Motor oil, paper towels, dog food and map books will make way for Krusty O’s cereal boxes, Sprinklicious doughnuts and Radioactive Man comic books.
Signs over the drink fountains will read “Buzz Cola” and a frozen drink flavor has been created for the month: WooHoo! Blue Vanilla Squishee Slurpee.
The transformation will last for a month, leading up to the July 27 opening of “The Simpsons Movie” from Fox. The Kwik-E-Mart, created by Simpsons cartoonist Matt Groening, was inspired by 7-Eleven, which has surpassed McDonald’s in number of retail outlets worldwide.
“When you’re the industry leader, others may want to stereotype or poke fun at you,” said Doug Foster, 7-Eleven’s chief marketing officer. “We get the joke and want to have a little fun with our customers and fans of ‘The Simpsons.’ ”
The Bladensburg 7-Eleven in Prince George’s County was selected because it is in the top 10 in sales among the chain’s 1,003 stores in the mid-Atlantic.
A trip to Bladensburg may be in order.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:53 am
This is one of the best marketing campaigns ever.
I want Krusty O’s….and I want to win a jagged metal Krusty O.
July 8th, 2007 at 8:25 am
[...] Yesterday, Kellie and took a little road trip to Blandensburg, Maryland, to visit the Kwik-E-Mart. [...]