Kevin Smith pays tribute to late Quick Stop owner who let him film Clerks at his store: 'Changed ...

&34;Because this sweet soul from a world away came to America, my American Dream came true,&34; the filmmaker wrote. Kevin Smith pays tribute to late Quick Stop owner who let him film Clerks at his store: 'Changed my life' &34;Because this sweet soul from a world away came to America, my American Dream came true,&34; the filmmaker wrote. By Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.jpg) Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at . He began writing for EW in 2022. EW's editorial guidelines November 25, 2025 5:16 p.m.

"Because this sweet soul from a world away came to America, my American Dream came true," the filmmaker wrote.

Kevin Smith pays tribute to late Quick Stop owner who let him film Clerks at his store: 'Changed my life'

"Because this sweet soul from a world away came to America, *my* American Dream came true," the filmmaker wrote.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

EW's editorial guidelines

November 25, 2025 5:16 p.m. ET

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Marilyn Ghigliotti, Jeff Anderson, Kevin Smith, Brian O'Halloran, and Lisa Spoonauer in 'Clerks'. Credit: Miramax Films/courtesy Everett Collection

- Kevin Smith paid tribute to Tarlochen Thapar, his former boss at the Quick Stop grocery store where he filmed *Clerks*.

- The filmmaker wrote, "Because this sweet soul from a world away came to America, *my* American Dream came true."

- *Clerks *actors Brian O'Halloran and Jason Mewes expressed their condolences in the comment section.

**Kevin Smith is remembering a shop owner who helped launch his filmmaking career.

The *Mallrats* director shared a tribute to Tarlochen Thapar, a small business owner in Leonardo, N.J., who died on Friday at 90. Thapar owned the Quick Stop grocery store and video rental shop where Smith worked and eventually shot his microbudget debut film *Clerks*.

"Mister Thapar hired me in 1989, both of us sitting on tiny step stools behind the counter of RST Video," Smith wrote on Instagram on Monday. "Working at a video store was my dream job, but it came with a cost: I had to also work at the convenience store next door, which also belonged to the Thapars. Thank God for that caveat, because it changed my life."

Smith explained, "In 1993, Thapar let me shoot my first film in #QuickStop at night when it was closed. So without Mister Thapar, there'd be no *Clerks*."

The filmmaker said that Thapar immigrated to the United States in the 1960s or '70s, and that "because this sweet soul from a world away came to America, *my* American Dream came true."

Smith went on to compare his relationship with the late shop owner to *Schoolhouse Rock*'s 1976 song "The Great American Melting Pot." "America brought us together, and what a tasty meal we made!" he wrote. "I'll miss you, Mister Thapar. Thank you for making your lifelong journey to Jersey — because this Jersey Boy (and anybody who ever enjoyed his black & white convenience store comedy) benefitted big time from your bravery."

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The *Dogma* director closed his remarks with a sweet memory of Thapar. "I still remember our 1991 conversation about reincarnation and I hope you were right, Boss," he wrote. "Because that means I might see you again one day. And when we do, we'll sit on tiny stools and talk movies."

Brian O'Halloran, who starred as protagonist Dante Hicks in *Clerks*, reacted to the news in a comment on Smith's post. "Oh no! My deepest condolences to you and the Thapar family," he wrote.

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Jason Mewes, a frequent collaborator of Smith's who played Jay in *Clerks* and numerous subsequent films alongside the filmmaker's character Silent Bob, also responded in a comment. "😢 RIP Mr. Thapar 🕊️," the actor wrote.

Released in 1994, *Clerks* quickly became a cult classic and is remembered as one of the foremost independent films of the 1990s. The film launched Smith's prolific career as a director and actor, and he revisited the world of his debut film with *Clerks II*, *Clerks III*, *Clerks: The TV Show*, and *Clerks: The Animated Series*, as well as a number of other projects that featured Jay and Silent Bob.

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Source: Comedy

Published: November 27, 2025 at 09:38AM on Source: MARIO MAG

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