4. The Block Of Stores
This entry just edged out Fhloston Paradise from 1997's The Fifth Element, which was deemed unnecessary after the inclusion of Cloud City. Made famous in Kevin Smiths 1992 slacker-comedy Clerks, The Block of Stores is unlike any of the other location on this list in that this spot can actually be visited in person. Sort of. To explain: Located just off Route 36 on Leonardo Ave in Leonardo, NJ, the Quick Stop is still standing and very much resembles the look featured in the now famous indie-film about Dante, a man who wasn't even supposed to be there that day. RST Video, located next to the convenient store (and Randal's place of employment), is no longer there. But even if it was, I would still maintain you couldn't really visit The Block of Stores as it was in the film since the location is only half of it. Being from New Jersey and a film fanatic, my adolescent mind was pulled towards Kevin Smith's films (for better or worse). It wasn't until college that my roommate, born and raised in Kevin Smith's hometown of Red Bank, took me on a detour to the Quick Stop. I walked around, but was sad to find no sign on the cash register that read, "If you plan to shoplift, please let us know." Weirdest of all? My world wasn't transfixed to a grainy black-and-white immediately upon entering; my vision remained the same, crisp, boring three-dimensional color I always have. Everything was completely amiss apart from the clerk who looked like he had at least a dozen places he'd rather be. In high school, I found employ at my local video store. Coincidentally, it was located directly to the right of a pharmacy where some other classmates worked. Slow days consisted of walking over, grabbing candy and holding conversations about nothing in particular. This experience brought me much closer to visiting this location than actually walking in the Quick Stop and asking the annoyed clerk if he was even supposed to be there that day (Ok. I didn't actually ask him that...). My point is this: More than the physical landmark, this fictional location is more defined by the mood. Oh, but what a mood it is.
Things to be careful of: Milkmaids, guidance counselors, Chewley's Gum representatives, and customers.