What I Saw Buying Hot Cheetos at the Town Square

Through street photography, I’m discovering the ways corner stores serve as the de-facto public spaces of the San Fernando Valley.

Saw this guy waiting under the lights for a good while around 11 PM — even after a bus had come through. || Photo by author

One morning, I walked down to the corner 7–11 for a cup of coffee. Thinking I’d loiter for a little bit and have a smoke, I brought my street photo bag with my cigarettes, camera, and other bits of kit. It’d been a minute since I’d seen the corner during daytime hours. I mostly knew it at night, usually after 10 PM or so when the food vendors were still out.

It was active that day. A truck driver was making a delivery, some kids were grabbing snacks before jumping on the bus, and other folks were getting energy drinks before work or class (presumably).

I set myself up in the “loitering corner,” which is just to the right of the entrance. It’s basically just a spot next to a dumpster, but the structure has a ledge where you can put a cup of coffee at chest level, so it’s a prime spot to put down your coffee while you light a cigarette. It smelled like piss that morning, unfortunately.

As I stepped away from the piss spot, a couple walked up — a man and a woman. He was wearing worn-out streetwear that was stylish at one point. Big coat, hoodie, cool sneakers. She had…