Venues
Events
MediaLocal Culture
How to Further Lower Times Square’s Dignity
Photos of the recently opened Pop Tarts World
Photo: Josh Kurp
| | More
One of the best things—okay, the best thing—about visiting my friend Danny’s house in high school was that his father bought a nearly unlimited supply of Vanilla Coke, Cosmic Brownies, Swiss Cake Rolls and Pop-Tarts for us impressionable youth. During 10th and 11th grade, I basically lived off Pop-Tarts, especially the Brown Cinnamon variety, which is probably one of the reasons why I weighed about 40 pounds more than I do now. They taste great—whether toasted or not—but pack a surprising 200 calories per Tart. And who eats just one? Plus, once you hit a certain age (namely, 18), the Kelloggs treats begin to lose their appeal, which is why it’s so surprising that a whole store dedicated to the sugar pastries opened in Times Square today: Pop Tarts World.
The employees were nice enough, so I don’t mean to knock them, but everything else about Pop-Tarts World is terribly misguided. I’m not saying Hershey World, or whatever the store with the horrifying giant candy bars is called, is any better; they both shouldn’t exist, and only in Times Square would they.
Pop-Tarts World is located on 42nd Street, between 6th Avenue and Broadway. Now you know what area of the city to avoid.
Andy Warhol would be proud.
And speaking of Andy, here’s some artwork done by a Warhol-wannabe: Burton Morris. The artist was commissioned by Kelloggs in 2009 to give a new look to Pop-Tarts, and his, um, master”poptart”pieces are framed above the Social Media station, where you can log onto Facebook and Twitter and ponder such questions as, “Where are you going on your summer vacation? What Pop-Tarts™ flavor are you going to take with you?”
If you want to walk around wearing a Pop-Tarts shirt—and really, who wouldn’t?—Pop Tarts World has got you covered. At this station, you can design your own wearable advertisement, which is kinda brilliant when you think about it. Damn you, Pop-Tarts!
I’m just as confused as you are—and this sign is.
No question marks, and just two of the many flavors at Pop-Tarts World.
As seen here.
And here.
Pop-Tarts Sushi, which is a broken Pop-Tart surrounded by a Fruit Roll-Up.
It was nice to leave Pop-Tarts World and escape to the calm that is 42nd and 7th. No blatant advertising here.
Although I must admit I’m a fan of the shopping bag the store uses. So bright!