This Chinese Grocery Store Only Sells Gigantic Versions Of Food
If it’s gigantic, I’m probably going to want it! I hadn’t eaten at Subway in over a decade, but they grabbed my attention with those footlong churros and cookies. There’s something whimsical about larger-than-life foods that hits a nostalgic note from childhood. Now that we’re adults, why not make it real?
That’s exactly what chain store Lingshi Henmang did in Changsha, China, where you can walk out with snacks the size of suitcases and refrigerators. The store boasts over 120 “honey-we-blew-up-the-kid” sized snacks ranging from ramen to Oreos, Lay’s potato chips, and moonpies. It’s a sight to see, with crowds of people hauling giant food over their shoulders! But are the snacks actually gigantic? Well, it’s a mixed bag. That giant box of Oreos? It’s filled with 14 smaller packs. The giant ramen? Packed with smaller ramen cups. But the spicy strips? They’re big enough to use as a blanket!
No wonder this store has turned into a full-on attraction, with TikTok showing over a hundred people waiting in line to get inside.
@louisliu86 Giant Snacks are going viral in China #chinesefood #snacks #china ♬ Funny – FASSounds
Aiming to be a “people’s snack store,” Lingshi Henmang offers snacks at lower prices than ordinary convenience stores, encouraging bulk buying with competitive rates. According to Xie Hai from the company’s public relations team, even with the rise of online shopping in China, they want people to visit physical stores. “When customers see well-arranged snacks that spark sweet childhood memories, they can’t resist buying, and shopping becomes a happy experience.”
The brand opened its first store in Changsha in January, and due to overwhelming demand, they opened another in March. How popular are these stores? Customers reported waiting three hours just to get inside, followed by another hour to check out. Some people are even paying others to wait in line for them. Sales figures speak for themselves, with the company raking in 7.15 million Yuan ($1,016,462.59 USD) over Labor Day weekend alone.
You could probably build a whole new city out of all the leftover boxes—and your cat would love it. Oh, and one last thing… Costco, you’ve been real quiet since this store popped up. BALL’S IN YOUR COURT. We don’t want apartments, we want the Polish dog back.