The 'Sonic Characters Walking Into Stores' meme is a popular trope within the Sonic the Hedgehog fandom that categorizes characters based on which retail stores they would likely frequent. It often features Shadow the Hedgehog entering Hot Topic, Sonic at a fast-food joint, or Silver at a high-tech electronics store. The meme parodies the distinct, often edgy or over-the-top personalities of the Sonic cast by placing them in mundane real-world settings. It gained traction on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Tumblr, where fans use the template to create humorously aligned character 'vibe checks' that match fictional traits with specific brand identities.