Junk Food Land

How sweet it is or could be. All it takes is one click, and behold a land where chocolate rules, sugar is healthy, and snacks abound. Welcome to Junk Food Land, where pixels entice and calories are zero.

Decadent treats are only the beginning. Junk Food Land is eye candy and gift shops; arcade attractions, a Ferris wheel, and Planet Pizza await. The concept and site are operated by Latte Blackewell Bixley and Radio Bixley. “I can mesh, but Radio is better and faster at it,” says Latte while conducting a tour of her candy-coated domain. “I fill in sometimes, but Radio takes care of almost all of the designing and texture work. I am more of the face of the store. I do script work and work with vendors.”

Our tour begins at the Junk Food Main Store. Aisles are chocked with candy bars, bags of chips, novelties, flip-flops, and a baked turkey wearing sunglasses. Almost everything in the store is for sale. An inhouse coffee shop and café are conveniently located for a sugar-rush break.

Stocked with candy and confections from childhood, the store has a nostalgic feel by design. “I didn’t have much money growing up,” recalls Latte. “Logging into SL was a great way to live out the few things I did enjoy as a kid, something as simple as the arcade.”

She adds, “Getting fast food on weekends was a reward; being able to provide an outlet like that to others, like I saw many years ago on SL, has been the ultimate goal here.”

Speaking of the arcade, it’s down the street, just past the site’s iconic restaurant Planet Pizza, where pizza is just the beginning. Simply put, there is nothing quite like this in SL.

First, of course, pizza is everywhere in this diner under a full-size rocket ship. Golden pepperoni pies of plenty grace every table. Smell it, savor it, click on it— your slice of the good life awaits.

The pizza parlor where crust is a must has arcade and skill games with a Chucky E. Cheese kind of vibe. Visitors accumulate tickets that can be cashed in for prizes.

A beautiful carousel indicative of days gone by, electronic bowling, video games (my favorite is Zombie Meltdown), and other amusements are all here, all under one roof. And get this: all the games are free.

To many, Junk Food Land is a Second Life within Second Life. “We also have a movie theater and restaurants,” adds Latte. “We have a lot of people coming here to roleplay, getting take-out pizza and the like. It’s pretty cute to watch.”

Outside is a towering 11-car Ferris wheel. Hop on and lift off, ‘till your pixeled heart’s content.

New people visit every week, and regular guests are reoccurring. “We talk weekly in group chat,” says Latte. “If we run into each other here, we always say hi. I pride myself on remembering ‘repeat offenders,’— I call them that. We have a good laugh over it.”

The site is also noted for its hunts. “We provide over 25 unique prizes last winter for the hunt,” recalls the owner. “It was well received.”

In the works is a collaboration between the Junk Food Store and Hi-Vid, the site’s movie store. In addition, Latte says, “I’d like to host a concert promoting both the store and their products.”

Across the street from Junk Food Store is Town Square. A statue of Tom Nook, a character from Animal Crossing, stands guard. “He will take all of your money,” Latte laughs. “That’s an inside joke.”

Surrounding the statue of the dubious yet lovable character are glorious fast-food outlets. They bear striking resemblances to RL counterparts. Burgers, fries, burritos, donuts, and yes, more pizza await. The detail of these places is striking. The ‘Home of the Whopper’ is now your home, too.

A working movie theater, “The Palace,” is here, too. A movie poster for “Jaws” advertises an old favorite. Or perhaps it references my jaws, chomping bagels in a nearby bakery.

Junk Food Land is surprisingly versatile— much more than a convenience store loaded with candy bars. So many venues are represented here: Childhood memories are rekindled. One cannot help but smile playing Whack-A-Mole once again.

Come for the arcade and midway or purchase gifts, eat at Pizza Planet, catch a movie, or meet friends for coffee. It’s all here, satisfaction for the sweet tooth in all of us.

Come, take a bite.