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Blythe Today
By the People, for the People
Iconic 'Bill and Ted' Convenience Store Isn't in San Dimas After All
The real-life filming location for the movie's opening scene is actually in Tempe, Arizona, not the California city where the film is set.
Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:33pm
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The iconic 'Bill and Ted' convenience store location may not be where fans expect, but the film's enduring legacy continues to captivate audiences.Blythe TodayThe former Circle K convenience store in San Dimas, California that was featured in the opening scene of the 1989 comedy film 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' is not actually located in the movie's setting of San Dimas. Instead, the real filming location is in Tempe, Arizona, where a Circle K store stood until 2022. The store has since been rebranded as Corner Market, but still maintains a connection to the iconic film.
Why it matters
The mistaken association between the real-life Circle K in San Dimas and the fictional one from 'Bill and Ted' has persisted for decades, with fans and locals alike believing the store was a filming location. This story helps set the record straight and provides insight into how movie locations can become confused with their on-screen counterparts, even when no actual filming took place there.
The details
The opening scene of 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' takes place at a Circle K convenience store in the fictional town of San Dimas, California. However, the actual filming location for that scene was a Circle K store in Tempe, Arizona, not San Dimas. The Tempe store closed in 2022 and has since been rebranded as Corner Market, but the new owners have kept some of the 'Bill and Ted' references alive, such as a red 'K' in the store's signage.
- The Circle K store in Tempe, Arizona that was used as the filming location closed in 2022.
- The former Circle K in San Dimas, California rebranded as Korner Market in 2023, keeping some 'Bill and Ted' references.
The players
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
The 1989 comedy film that featured the opening scene at a Circle K convenience store, which was actually filmed in Tempe, Arizona rather than the movie's setting of San Dimas, California.
Circle K
The convenience store chain that operated the location in Tempe, Arizona that was used as the filming site for the opening scene of 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.'
Korner Market
The new name for the former Circle K store in San Dimas, California that was mistakenly associated with the 'Bill and Ted' film, even though no filming took place there.
The takeaway
This story highlights how movie locations can become confused with their on-screen counterparts, even when no actual filming takes place there. The mistaken association between the real-life Circle K in San Dimas and the fictional one from 'Bill and Ted' has persisted for decades, underscoring the power of pop culture to shape our perceptions of the real world.
