Circle K, Alachua -- A Review by Hedda Hopper
Darlings, let me be frank--Circle K in Alachua isn't exactly Grauman's Chinese Theatre, but in its own gas-pumping, soda-fizzing way, it's got character. And in Hollywood or Highway 441, that counts for something.
You pull in expecting little--fluorescent lights, lukewarm coffee, maybe a crushed bag of potato chips--and yet, what do you find? A stage! A revolving cast of locals, truckers, teenagers, and the occasional sunburnt tourist playing their parts with gusto. I saw more costume changes in 10 minutes than I did in Camille.
Of course, the décor is pure utilitarian noir. You won't find glamour here--not a chandelier, not a touch of velvet. But there's something cinematic in the endless hum of refrigerators, the flickering soda machine, the cashier chewing gum like it's her close-up.
Is it elegant? No. But is it alive? Very much so. It's the kind of place where gossip lingers in the air longer than air freshener. A gas station, yes--but also a gossip station, a plot point, a rest stop in the great American drama.
Not fabulous--but fascinating. And sometimes, that's better. read more