March 3, 2014. 22 photos.
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At the soft opening of the Sfanthor souvenir and collectibles shop on S. Congress, owner Steve Busti poses with his collection of original Star Wars figurines. At Sfanthor, a customer can find almost anything to meet their fandom needs, from t-shirts to comics to jewelry. The store was opened as a teaser for their coming-soon wax museum of science fiction and horror movies. The museum, which is slated to officially open in about a month, will feature original movie monsters and complete scenes from the genres of which Sfanthor derives its name: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. -
The majority of items for sale in Sfanthor, including first issues of many comics, are from Busti’s own collection. “This is what I love,” Busti said. “This was my childhood in here. Even though for me it’s time clear out my house, I really want to share this with the next generation.” -
The majority of comics sold at Sfanthor are first issues of series running the genre gamut from superhero to zombie. -
Customers fill the store at Sfanthor’s soft opening. -
Vintage Marx figures from The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and a Viking -
One of the fandoms represented at Sfanthor is Star Trek, with vintage models and figurines. -
A sculpture of the the Metaluna Mutant from This Island Earth by Doug Hildavrandt watches customers from his stand in the corner of the store. -
This gargoyle sculpture is one of several that will adorn the outside of the store after construction is finished. -
This original signed print – one of only 300 – by H. R. Giger depicts the well-known and shudder-inducing creatures from Alien. -
T-shirts sold at Sfanthor brag about how batty Austin is. -
This t-shirt is one of the many sold at Sfanthor dedicated to favorite horror villains. -
This zombie figurine is only one part of an extensive zombie-themed shelf at Sfanthor. -
A horror-honoring store would be incomplete without a shelf of brain-eating friends. -
This sculpture of the Elephant Man – a real man with skin deformities who spent his life as a living exhibition in the late 1800s – watches over the comic wall of Sfanthor. -
Have no fear, Star Wars fans – you are well represented at Sfanthor. -
These necklaces, created by a South Congress artist, are placed on the back of pennies. -
Sfanthor owner Steve Busti lines up his Star Wars figurines at the counter. -
A family examines postcards featuring horror legends such as Frankenstein and Dracula. -
Sfanthor owner Steve Busti and his wife, Veronica, check customers out. -
Sfanthor owner Steve Busti helps a customer with a specific request for Doctor Who comics. His collection of comics is not limited to those displayed on the walls – boxes line the floor below with even more series and editions. -
Outside the store, artist Josh Stevensen works on a wax sculpture that will be included in the wax museum adjacent to Sfanthor. Though it has opened before the museum, Sfanthor will eventually be a secondary souvenir shop to the owners’s real focus: a chronological walk through cinema history, told through wax. -
Sfanthor owner Steve Busti is also a comic artist. Below the checkout counter, customers can find issues illustrated by Busti himself, including series such as Bizzare Fantasy.”