Little Big Mart

General

Little Big Mart

Comic Story information

Released:	July 1996
Comic series:	Simpsons Comics
Pages:	21
Written by:	Gary Glasberg

Little Big Mart is a Simpsons Comics story first printed in Simpsons Comics #22.

Plot

Apu is unusually on edge and tells his nephew Jamshed that he is uncertain about his future as the Kwik-E-Mart franchise has now been acquired by Mr. Burns. In his office, Burns watches Apu at work on his shop's security camera and admires his method of working. Smithers forcefully takes Apu to Burns' manor where Burns proposes the creation of a Mega Kwik-E-Super Store, with Apu as the manager and Burns as his business partner. Apu excitedly agrees. The next day, people in Springfield are distraught at the Kwik-E-Mart's closure but see a billboard advertising the new mega store. Mr. Burns holds meetings with Apu where he teaches him how to be a greedy business manager, after which Apu starts to look and behave like Burns. When Apu returns home, Jamshed becomes troubled by his behavior.

The super store has a grand opening attended by a large portion of Springfield including the Simpson family. In a meeting, Mr. Burns accidentally mentions to Apu how the super store is built on top of a nuclear waste dump but pretends he misspoke. Jamshed overhears them planning to cut costs and raise prices to boost their profits. Within a few days, customers become dissatisfied with the super store as various breakdowns happen and refunds are refused. At a town meeting, other store and restaurant owners complain about the super store taking away their customers. Jamshed interrupts to say that Apu has been brainwashed and asks for help in returning him to normal so the detrimental effects of the super store can be put to an end.

Later, Jamshed tells Apu a statue has been built in his honor, but reveals it to simply be Apu's former baseball bat used to fend off hoodlums. He reminds Apu that it represents how he once appreciated his loyal customers, and other Springfieldians recall how he and the Kwik-E-Mart were there when they needed him. Apu sees the error of his ways and promises to put an end to the super store. Meeting with Mr. Burns, he threatens to publicly reveal how the super store is on a radioactive waste ground, but Burns reminds him that doing so would be a violation of his contract and would get him sued.

Apu visits the Kwik-E-Mart president in India to gain enlightenment on how to overthrow Burns. The next week, the original Kwik-E-Mart has returned and the super store has closed, with Apu revealing it was down to a frequently broken clause in Burns' contract stating that anyone entering the store must wear a shirt and shoes, otherwise the Kwik-E-Mart brand will revert to its original owner. In addition, the contract violation has forced Burns and Smithers to work in the store cleaning up.