Convenience stores are many things to many people: a Slurpee-filled oasis on a long road trip; a late-night hang-out for thirsty teens hoping to bum some beers in the parking lot; somewhere to grab some Cheetos, because Cheetos. But no matter where you are, after hours the artificial glow of these things is like an eerie sirens’ call.
![An Ode To The Eerie Charm Of Convenience Stores At Night](https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/14/mysap8fqxj73paybaetv.png?quality=75?quality=75)
Photographer Harlan Erskine snapped a selection of these junk food hubs a few years back, and the images are fascinating: Each is totally familiar with a seen-one, seen-’em’all sameness that’s very strange. Is it weird that I find them strangely comforting too?
![An Ode To The Eerie Charm Of Convenience Stores At Night](https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/14/cff7xtdabxk68up16gh5.png?quality=75?quality=75)
![An Ode To The Eerie Charm Of Convenience Stores At Night](https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/14/tgdbnj9w7hdtm8wiaj2q.png?quality=75?quality=75)
![An Ode To The Eerie Charm Of Convenience Stores At Night](https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/14/xejf8tazpaybdmrez4ov.png?quality=75?quality=75)
There’s nothing romantic or impressive about the architecture; it’s remarkably consistent — the structural equivalent of a shoebox with windows snipped out of the side — with lighting harsh enough to make anyone squint, and all the charm of a sheet of junk mail coupons. Chances are they haven’t changed one bit since he shot the series (I’m guessing even a major rebrand won’t evolve how we see these spots).
![An Ode To The Eerie Charm Of Convenience Stores At Night](https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/14/gknnm0a1xagxjji7w3bc.png?quality=75?quality=75)
![An Ode To The Eerie Charm Of Convenience Stores At Night](https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/14/e612uurqrfgvl68onym3.png?quality=75?quality=75)
![An Ode To The Eerie Charm Of Convenience Stores At Night](https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/14/zep0izmbsisjqlia6jtv.png?quality=75?quality=75)
![An Ode To The Eerie Charm Of Convenience Stores At Night](https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/14/m8jrkhgkybzivoz692er.png?quality=75?quality=75)
Some of these might be part of a strip mall, others situated on their own in the middle of nowhere. But even when there’s blackness all around, you know exactly what you’re going to find inside. [Junk Culture]