A disturbance in the Force: Iconic Star Wars Phantom Menace vending machine vanishes in Pittsburgh

Raquel CiampiPITTSBURGH —

This is not the vending machine you are looking for.

When you think of iconic Star Wars memorabilia, you may not think of a vending machine sitting next to a fire department in Pittsburgh.

However, the disappearance of the 1999 Star Wars Phantom Menace-themed vending machine is causing a disturbance in the Force for the Steel City.

While the original vending machine in Mt. Washington has gone missing, an apparent homemade replacement has been left behind.

“It looks like a homemade art project, but it has a little character to it. One thing I did notice though, is (the vending machine) used to have Pepsi in it, and now it has Coca-Cola,” Bill Bara said.

The fire department, which owns the original machine, said the money it generated benefited the firehouse.

People in the area said they hope the disappearance is just a prank and that whoever took the machine will return it.

In the words of Jar Jar Binks, “How wude.”