Get Your Squishees and Buzz Cola While You Still Can

Blogger Toddler, Meet Ralph Wiggum.

We finally hit the 7-Eleven-turned-Kwik-E-Mart in Burbank on Thursday morning. At 7 a.m., there's no line to get in, and the donuts are fully stocked. (And yes, it's true, someone did steal the "Bank of Springfield" ATM sign in front. How'd they do that?)



See what I mean? We picked up two donuts -- one of which Evan promptly inhaled, with little warning (we just asked him to hold it for a second) -- as well as a package of Simpsons candy and two coffees. I already have a can of Buzz cola at home, and sadly, Krusty-O's cereal is long gone.



When we asked if we'll still be able to buy Krusty-O's again, the guy behind the counter told us "Sure -- just go to eBay." Ha, ha.

This same guy told us later we should get Evan into soccer now, that he has Beckham-style heartthrob soccer player potential when he gets older. Kinda weird, but since I like it when people gush over the B.T., I didn't let it bother me.



I'm glad we finally got there, and it was a good way to end my "Simpsons"-drenched week. And a way to eat more bad stuff on top of all the bad stuff I've downed this week.



Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times wrote about the successful "Simpsons" / 7-Eleven marketing campaign:

"I never thought we were going to do this kind of business," said Swarn Sahni, who owns the 7-Eleven franchise at 1611 W. Olive Ave. in Burbank that will operate as a Kwik-E-Mart through the end of the month (the other local store is at 11143 Venice Blvd. in West Los Angeles). " 'The Simpsons' fans are spending money like crazy."

Sahni said the line outside the store has been near constant and his business has shot up about 300% since putting up the Kwik-E-Mart signage June 30.

Most of that comes from the movie-related merchandise (which is stocked in non-Kwik-E-Mart 7-Elevens as well) -- and more than a few hot dogs. "I usually sell 800 hot dogs a week," Sahni said. "Now I'm selling about 3,000 a week."

As for that most quintessential of Simpson edibles, the doughnut, the Burbank store had sold 57,510 of the Sprinklicious variety in July (they're the ones, as every "Simpsons" fan knows, with the pink icing and multicolored sprinkles), according to a 7-Eleven spokesman.

Hurry there-- once the movie opens, the Kwik-E-Mart is pretty much history. Thank you, come again.