A singular interdimensional grocery store filled with mind-bending products, alien portals and unexpected landscapes creates a 52,000-square-foot hidden art installation to surprise visitors.
This is the incredible art experience customers enjoy at a Las Vegas, Nevada, supermarket where a mysterious drinks’ fridge leads to a labyrinth of colorful designs that have gone viral.
The immersive exhibit takes place at Omega Mart. The customers gain access to the surreal world by borrowing an employee card.
“When I arrived in Las Vegas, I saw multiple advertisements starting in the airport and social media,“ said supermarket visitor Steve Yalo from Long Island, in New York State.
He was thrilled by the mind-altering experience produced at the grocery shop.
“This isn’t just a store. It’s an interactive art exhibit. Tickets are $45 per person and in my opinion, it’s worth every cent. This is definitely a unique experience. The attention to detail was mesmerizing, and everywhere I looked I found myself staring at a fascinating piece of art.”
The mastermind behind the projects is Meow Wolf — an arts production company that creates multimedia experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms.
Yalo posted a video of his experience on TikTok that is racking up millions of views.
“I did not expect this video to go viral. I was expecting maybe a few thousand views since this is an interesting place, but 3.5 million! I’ve never had a video gain this much exposure,” he said.
“Omega Mart is an amalgamation of 60 different environments created by 350 artists. Stumble through a refrigerator of Omega sodas and into an extraordinary alternate reality where nothing is as it seems.
“When you enter, it seems like a grocery store, but there are multiple passages to new areas and rooms, which I can only describe as fascinating interactive art installations.“
“The attention to detail is incredible. You can spend hours just reading the hilarious labels of all the peculiar products on the shelves. Most things are just for show, but there are many products you can purchase.”
Musical and visual effects artists like Beach House, Brian Eno, Amon Tobin, Shrine and Android Jones are among those who worked on this mind-bending experience.
“If you are ever in Las Vegas, I would highly recommend a visit here. This is not a typical art exhibit. There’s actually a mission to complete and an entire storyline to follow if you pay attention,“ Yalo said.
Most guests usually spend up to two hours in the exhibition on their first visit. It is recommended to visit Omega Mart yearly to see the additions, upgrades and new rooms added to the permanent exhibition.
The concept for Omega Mart first originated in 2009, when artists created a DIY pop-up grocery store exhibit.
The art installation at Omega Mart sells custom-made products, such as Mammoth Chunks, Organic Moth Milk, Nut Free Salted Peanuts and Plausible Deniability Laundry Detergent. Piñatas of the Seven Deadly Sins— a grouping and classification of vices within Christian teachings, designed by artist Justin Favela, are also available for purchase.
The exhibit also features a secret bar, Datamosh, with 48 seats, which serves eight specialty cocktails. Among the drinks are Orange Dream with liquor and Blank Berry Bliss, made with the Real McCoy Rum, Wolfberger Litchi, Calpico, peppercorn, lemon, and basil seed mixed with a pink peppercorn Champagne syrup — a specialty of the house.
Omega Mart says a cocktail dubbed the Source is their pièce de résistance, made with El Silencio Mezcal, Lillet Blanc, shiso, tarragon and lime. The drink has a photo-worthy rosemary bubble filled with smoke to top it off.
Finding the bar at Omega Mart is a challenge — there are no directions or signs.
(Edited by Angie Ivan and Fern Siegel)
