ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, the duo behind the iconic characters Jay and Silent Bob from the 1994 indie hit Clerks, will close out this year’s NACS Show with a keynote session on October 17 in Chicago.
The Closing General Session promises to be lively as the pair reflects on their careers, shares insights into convenience retailing, and offers advice on branding and storytelling. Clerks famously revolved around a New Jersey convenience store, a setting that helped launch their careers and cemented the movie as a cultural touchstone for Generation X.
Since then, Smith and Mewes have built lasting careers both together and apart. Smith, who wrote and directed Clerks, expanded Jay and Silent Bob’s universe into films like Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, and Clerks III. Beyond filmmaking, he runs a comic book store in Red Bank, New Jersey, and has become a prolific podcaster.
Mewes, meanwhile, has turned Jay’s quick-witted persona into a pop culture staple. He has appeared in films such as The Last Godfather and on TV shows including Supergirl and The Flash. He also connects with fans through Twitch streams, live podcasts, and solo stage shows.
The NACS Show remains the largest annual gathering for the convenience retail industry, featuring education, networking, and new product showcases. Last year’s event drew more than 26,000 attendees.
