PHOTOS BY KRISTY GRAVER

In “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” a Peanuts special that turns 50 in 2023, our favorite blockhead serves a holiday meal consisting of popcorn, toast, pretzel sticks and jelly beans. Good grief.

My daughter is obsessed with snacks and would gladly take them over the traditional Turkey Day feast (more mashed potatoes for me!).

This is why her favorite “restaurant” is Vendor Bender, a veritable cornucopia of junk food.

The storefront at 2301 Murray Ave. in Squirrel Hill is filled with vending machines featuring snacks, candy, ice cream, bubble gum, charcuterie and drinks from around the world. After eating English Twiglets, a few Canadian Coffee Crisps, beef-flavored Tic Tac from Indonesia and Leche cookies popular in the Dominican Republic, you can wash it all down with a Japanese energy drink called Liquid Rage. 

If your stomach is feeling homesick, there are local treats available such as Sarris Salted Pretzel Chocolate Bars and other American favorites. The inventory changes weekly with between 25 and 40 nations represented. It’s fun to look at the different packaging on the products. Some of them are downright aggressive.

The machines accept major credit cards, Apple and Google Pay, $1 and $5 bills and coins (except pennies. Sorry, Abe.). 

If your selection gets stuck don’t flip out like a Twix-starved George Costanza, the machines are equipped with sensors that can tell when a product drops and you won’t be charged. Those sensors also know when a hangry person shakes or damages the contraption. A silent alarm will alert police to any tampering. 

Since the store doesn’t have employees on-site, it’s monitored by surveillance cameras. I’m sure it caught me squealing with delight when I saw the Tayto crisps I enjoyed in Ireland decades ago. I plan to dip them in gravy as a Thanksgiving Day appetizer. Since my bloodstream is 75 percent ink, I also bought Tattoos, Mexican corn chips with an adorably festive cartoon cob on the bag.

Japanese vending culture inspired Squirrel Hill native Derek Green to open the storefront last November.

“I didn’t want to essentially be another convenience store with vending machines inside of it,” he says. “Squirrel Hill is such a melting pot of cultures and is becoming an increasingly diverse neighborhood because of the universities and people making a decision to stay here after college is over. I thought what a cool thing it would be if we could import things from all over the world, and have a rotating stock of international items.” 

Green sources the snacks and beverages from wholesalers throughout the country that specialize in international foods. He also takes road trips to search for eye-catching items. Since opening, Vendor Bender has carried more than 4,000 products from 48 different countries. 

His go-to’s are Crab Chips from Korea, Peach Mango Soda from Lebanon, and all of the German and Dutch gummy candies. Best-sellers include Sushi and Spicy Lobster Lays potato chips, Aero bars from the United Kingdom and Thai Basil Seed beverages.

It’s one of the only places in the area open 24 hours, which attracts a late-night clientele. It should also be noted that this haven for munchies is located near a marijuana dispensary. 

Green is looking to expand into other areas of the city. In the meantime, he’s celebrating Vendor Bender’s first anniversary by offering cash prizes from 10 a.m. Nov. 18 through midnight on Nov. 19.

All of the machines will be stocked with the most popular snacks, sweets and liquids and many of the items will have cold, hard cash taped to the back of them. 

“Everyone walks away a winner,” Green says, “because, at the very least, you are going home with some delicious international treats.”

I think Charlie Brown would approve.