SpongeBob’s Barg’N-Mart Coming to Life at Universal Kids Resort

Bikini Bottom’s most chaotic grocery store is trading the deep sea for North Texas sunshine. Barg’N-Mart, the sunken treasure chest–turned mega grocery store, is taking shape at Universal Kids Resort, where it will anchor retail in SpongeBob SquarePants’ Bikini Bottom. Universal promises it will include “all the nautical nonsense anyone could wish for.”

In the TV show, Barg’N-Mart is a go-to shopping destination for spatulas, canned bread, Kelp-O, broken kites, and plenty of other nonsense. It’s appeared in several episodes and has a history of being destroyed by karate hands and boatmobiles.

The store’s design is perfect for a kid-centric theme park. Like many Bikini Bottom buildings, Barg’N-Mart is repurposed human debris. In this case, a treasure chest. The wooden box features a skull and crossbones mounted above the main entrance, brass banding on the facade, large blue handles on the sides, and arched windows. Universal’s scale model of the resort features a more understated sign above the main entrance.

Painters recently began applying wood grain to the exterior. Unfortunately, I’ve only been able to photograph one side of the store. I’ll get the front once I can buy a ticket. But even with my limited sightlines, the details stand out.

Before the walls went up, Aahs n Oohs discovered that the Barg’N-Mart also serves a second purpose. The building houses support systems for the nearby Bobbing Barrels attraction, including a pump room and retention pool.

In addition to the Barg’N-Mart, Universal Kids Resort is bringing several of Bikini Bottom’s greatest hits to Frisco, including Glove World, Goofy Goober’s, and Mussel Beach. It’s a strong lineup that’s missing one iconic location: The Krusty Krab. While the burger joint appeared in earlier concept art, it didn’t make the final cut.

On a recent episode of the Disney Dish Podcast, Jim Hill speculated that Krabby Patties might be off the menu due to licensing. SpongeBob SquarePants is the only IP at Universal Kids Resort not owned by Universal. The company is licensing the characters and settings from Paramount, which owns Nickelodeon. If a Krusty Krab were serving actual Krabby Patties, Paramount could receive a percentage of those food sales.

I’d have paid an extra buck to enjoy a Krabby Patty in Bikini Bottom, but I guess I’ll enjoy a nice loaf of Barg’N-Mart canned bread instead.

Read more: Flower Clouds Float Into SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom at Universal Kids Resort