Is the supermarket based on Walmart? (Is Cloud 9 real, imitating Walmart, etc.)
From 2015 to March 2021, a related show made laughs: Superstore, a 30-minute comedy about the lives and antics of a group of employees at a large discount store.
The store, called Cloud 9, #1217, is like it’s own character and relevance. Well, that’s probably because it reminds a lot of people of the Walmart in their neighborhood. So, is Superstore based on Walmart? Find out below!
Is the supermarket based on Walmart?
While the big box store Cloud 9 in the sitcom Superstore bears many similarities to the real-life retail chain Walmart, no one associated with the show has officially stated that Walmart is indeed the basis of the fictional location. Cloud 9 contains elements of Walmart and Target, the latter known as competitors.
To find out more about Cloud 9, where Superstore was filmed, and whether any of the ideas that worked on Superstore actually worked in a real supermarket, check out all the info I’ve put together for you!
Is Cloud 9 real?
Cloud 9, the hypermarket from the television sitcom Superstore, is a fictional retail chain. It’s not authentic, although it resembles a real big chain.
According to the Superstore Wiki page, Cloud 9 is headquartered in Chicago, but has offices around the world.
Its fictional employment practices leave much to be desired; employees do not have paid maternity leave, health insurance, or overtime pay.
Cloud 9 employees are only allowed one bathroom break per shift and have only 15 minutes for lunch.
Like some real-life corporate offices, the headquarters controls all the locks, lights, music, and temperature in the various stores.
Like Walmart’s Great Value, Cloud 9 has a store brand: Halo at first, then SuperCloud.
Is the supermarket a copycat of Walmart?
The Oxford Language defines “parody” as “imitating the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre, deliberately exaggerated for comic effect”.
If we go by the Oxford language, the Superstore is a parody of the Walmart experience.
However, the real Walmart might rival Superstore in the hyperbole department.
Check out these real-life stories from Walmart employees about some of the craziness they witnessed.
Sometimes life is more exciting than fiction.
Supermarket Writer Ever worked at Walmart?
While none of the writers or producers seemed to work at Walmart, they did consult our Walmart.
Our Walmart, now called United4Respect, is a retail labor advocacy nonprofit that seeks greater equality and fairness for workers at companies like Walmart and Amazon.
Made up of former and current employees, it’s no surprise that OUR Walmart/United4Respect was able to help the creators of Superstore paint surreal scenes.
Was Superstore filmed in a real store?
Superstore was never filmed at an actual Wal-Mart, but the first season did film at a K-Mart that was in operation!
According to Showbiz Cheatsheet, actors were even mistaken for employees and asked multiple times where certain items were.
After the success of the first season, the production may have received a bigger budget, and filming moved to a three-story soundstage in Universal Studios, California.
The average Walmart Supercenter is about 182,000 square feet, but the sets won’t be that large.
So, to create the impression of such a massive building, the crew installed mirrors throughout the roughly 22,000-square-foot space. This makes the store look like it will last longer.
Items like cash registers and scanners are actually real, repurposed from old Ralph’s and Fresh & Easy stores.
Are the products in the supermarket genuine?
No matter how long you watch Superstore, you’ll see a lot of big names.
These brands, such as PepsiCo and Keurig, have signed clearance deals with Superstore, allowing them to feature their labels on screen.
In fact, some commenters on the Quora post suggested that the brands may have even paid Superstore for product placement.
Regardless, when mixed with Cloud 9’s store-branded merchandise, it certainly makes the set look more authentic.
It only adds to Cloud 9’s unnerving familiarity compared to the real Walmart store we’ve all been to.
If you want to learn more about Walmart, be sure to check to see if Walmart owns Wayfair, if Walmart has a tax exemption program, and if Walmart employs VSP and EyeMed.
in conclusion
Cloud 9 and its staff at Superstore certainly feel like they’re taking on Walmart directly, but there’s no official comment from any of the creators to suggest that’s true.
I think that’s sensible, because a show like Superstore speaks to the general experience of retailers everywhere, whether it’s Walmart, Target, or any other department store.
