If you’ve been looking for Mammoth Chunks or Dinosaur Eggs, the Echo Park Time Travel Mart in Los Angeles is the place you need to be, the only convenience store that specializes in time travel.

Yes, it does and is a unique store with tongue firmly planted in cheek because Echo Park Time Travel Mart is really about old-fashioned education with reading, writing and, of course, robots.

The Time Travel Mart is the one of the literacy projects by 826 cofounded by author Dave Eggars which focuses on creative writing skills of children ages 6 to 18. Eggars is a former editor of Salon.com, founder of McSweeney’s and has written several novels including “You Shall Know Our Velocity.” His latest endeavor is an untitled film to be directed by Sam Mendes and starring John Krazinski of The Office fame. He also recently adapted the children’s classic “Where the Wild Things Are” for screen adaptation.

Echo Park Time Travel Mart’s motto is “Whenever you are, we’re already then”  and is the only time travel convenience store on record (wink) but it’s real mission is one-on-one tuturing.

With an edge, of course.

The Travel Mart is functional and helps finance the writing labs and funds activities for the children who are receiving assistance. In San Francisco, 826 has an authentic Pirate Shop and the non-profit also has branches in New York (which has a superhero theme); Chicago; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Seattle; and Boston.

The whimsy of Echo Park which even has an  “Time-Freezy Slushee Machine” that has a sign

that says “Out of Order, Come Back Yesterday.”

The detailing of the Time Travel Mart is impressive. It’s been likened to a combination of Stanley Kubrick and a Victorian Parlor in the labs, and most products show either a jump to the future or the past.

With Eggers at the helm, 826LA has also garnered star support in Los Angeles. Director Spike Jonez, director of “Watching John Malcovich” has taught classes for students.  Natalie Portman has also graced Echo Park Time Travel Park.

Eggers says his model is growing and by combining the tools that are not only retail friendly to support 826, he believes that his project of teaching children to hone their creative talents is a model that could essentially be used nationwide. For visitors, it’s not only smart, it’s fun. To truly understand the depth of the 826 project nationwide, a website that details the organization’s mission can be found here.
Echo Park Time Travel Mart is located on Sunset Boulevard.

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