Pop goes the culture at new cafe

THE founders of comic shop Heroes HQ are returning to the pop culture business with a cafe set to open in Creswick.

The venue, named Aunt May’s after the fictional Spider-Man character, will add a comic book and culture themed take on the venue previously known as 84 on Albert.

Pauline Fay is opening the eatery alongside her husband Garry and said it’s the start of a dream the pair had shared for years.

“We sold Heroes HQ about seven years ago and the impetus for Aunt May’s probably came more from me,” she said.

“Comic books and pop culture’s probably more Garry’s thing and I’m more about hospitality, cafes and cooking.

“We loved the comic store but it didn’t quite cater for hospitality events.”

The pair bought the business in December, with refurbishments to include a super-hero themed entrance followed by Disney and Hanna-Barbera tributes towards the back of the venue.

Though still being planned, the location will feature cafe food alongside about 20 different super-hero-themed sodas from a dedicated bar.

Regular celebrations are being planned to coincide with events like movie launches, the anniversary of Batman or Star Wars Day on 4 May.

With Ms Fay’s hospitality experience and Mr Fay’s passion for comics, he said the venture is a great way to combine both their loves.

“I loved Heroes HQ but for me, the driving passion for this was for us to be able to do something together,” he said.

“This was something we always talked about doing together even when we had the comic shop.”

Ms Fay said the cafe aims to provide a pleasant atmosphere of shared pop culture appreciation.

“We want this to be a fun, relaxed, calm place to enjoy yourself, celebrate pop culture and really reminiscing,” she said.

“At Heroes HQ, we had people of all different ages coming and we really built a community so we want to bring that culture to this.”

Aunt May’s is set to open by the end of January.