Culture

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[COMICS]

Second Print

Apotheosis to open new Cherokee Street location by Free Comic Book Day in August

Written by JACK PROBST

It’s been a challenging fifteen months for potheosis omics.

In order to avoid falling under the weight of Ragnarok — or rather, the global pandemic — the comic shop maintained business like many others by offering curbside pickup options and mail orders. owever, one thing that set them above the rest was the fact that they provided the only comic-book-and-beer delivery service in the area. s the saying goes Not all heroes wear capes. “I remember I delivered a single ud ight to a dude ten minutes away because he just needed a beer, and I was like, I feel you, man,” says owner artin asas.

“I threw in some free comics, too. “ e had to figure out how to survive as uickly as possible, and in order to do that, we had to figure out what worked and what didn’t by constant trial by fire,” he adds. “The pandemic for us was training for the lympics. nd, you know, I like to think that we ualified.” Thanks to that willingness to go the extra mile for its customers, potheosis omics not only survived the pandemic but is thriving, and even gearing up to open a second store in ugust. The new potheosis location will occupy the former home of the beloved oam offee eer at South efferson venue. ut that’s not all. s asas explains, the purchase of the space also included the building orning lory iner will continue to reside in and the currently vacant former location for Street Ink, which they intend to rent out in the future. ithin the plan is a commitment to beautify their corner of herokee Street with murals from local artists.

“I am going to enlist St. ouis muralists to put up some stuff on the side of the building,” asas explains. “ nd I also want to put up what I’m calling native futurism’ by a herokee artist, who will paint something to honor the herokee people.”

The first potheosis ( potheosis rime, if you will) opened in September and has become a southcity staple for casual readers, those new to comics and mega nerds. The South rand location will still boast comics and beers but stay family oriented, with classes aimed at teaching games like ok mon and ungeons ragons to an all-ages audience. In addition, the upstairs game rooms have opened once again for those that want to grab a canned cocktail, roll the die and fight orcs with all the members in their party. eanwhile, the retail section at the new potheosis will be laid out similarly to how the rand location currently is set up. Shelves will line the walls with spots for single-issue comics and trade collections, along with other pop culture memorabilia. ut it will also feature a few new twists.

“The idea behind it is that we want you to step into a comic book,” asas says. “So it’s going to be white walls with black trim everywhere, so it looks like a comic panel. e will have two coolers one full of beer and one full of canned cocktails and different soda varieties. e’ll have a coffee shop in the back that will be selling lueprint offee.” lueprint offee is just one collaboration asas has planned for the new location. e’s hoping to create more partnerships with the businesses on herokee like his previous collaborations at the other location. ( ere’s a South rand easter egg from asas “ e have a ickle Rick pickle seltzer that if you take it to afe Natasha they’ll make you a rench with it.”) hile it’s not easy to pair physical comics with food without them becoming colorful placemats, the beverage menu can certainly complement any meal you order on herokee Street. nd asas’ wheels are always spinning, thinking up new ways local small businesses can work together. potheosis is St. ouis’ own ouse of Ideas, so don’t be surprised if someday you start seeing its single-issue spinner racks in other businesses around the city. or those wondering about the little platform that was oam’s stage It’s staying in place, and it will not be staying empty. asas wasn’t initially considering having any special events for the herokee location, but people started asking when news of the new spot hit. So, due to the demand, the new potheosis will hold weekly comedy shows again, pairing comics with comics in a delightful bit of synergistic wordplay. s far as music goes, potheosis isn’t here to replace oam. “ e will not have, like, loud thundering punk shows anymore,” asas explains, “but it will be something interesting from the community.” ear not, True elievers! Since the bones of the new location are in great shape, asas is confident that they will have the new site open by ree omic ook ay on ugust ! xcelsior! or updates on all things potheosis, visit apotheosiscomicsstl. com. n

e second location of Apotheosis Comics is expected to open in August on Cherokee with its own twists, including live performances. | JACK PROBST

e Way Out Club is on the way out, but you’ll have all of July to say goodbye. | DOYLE MURPHY

[CLOSINGS]

The 27 Club

e Way Out prepares to close a er 27 years as St. Louis’ go-to for all things weird

Written by JAIME LEES

One of St. Louis’ longest-running music venues is shutting down. The Way Out Club (2525 South Jefferson Avenue) is closing for good, and the space is currently for sale.

Though the club was known for hosting a wide variety of bands since it opened September 24, 1994, it also functioned as a neighborhood bar and a multipurpose entertainment space.

The Way Out Club has been a community recreation spot for generations of weird St. Louis youths who gathered there to see bands, attend poetry readings, watch cult films, participate in pieeating contests, witness freak shows, enjoy burlesque shows, sing karaoke and drink a few (or more) cocktails.

Owned and operated by Bob “Bobbo” Putnam and Sherri “Danger” Lucas, the Way Out Club opened originally at 3159 Cherokee Street (current spot of the STL Style House) before moving to 2525 South Jefferson Avenue.

The couple always incorporated the things that they loved into the club, which is why the bric-a-brac interior was decorated with posters of films, clown heads, vintage furniture and art. When Lucas got into Zumba (eventually becoming a fitness teacher) she brought that love to the club, and Lucas and Putnam opened their doors for workout classes.

And their cat, Angus, was a longtime resident of the Way Out Club, expertly receiving pets from drunks and often seen warming his ears by the heat of a bulb in a retro lamp.

Though the club often hosted major touring acts (including surprise shows from famous musicians like J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.), it was Putnam and Lucas’ support of local bands that made the club stand out as an essential part of the St. Louis music scene.

The Way Out Club’s consistent support of St. Louis’ music community over the past few decades cannot be overstated. Putnam and Lucas would not only book fledgling local bands constantly, they’d also show them support and encouragement. (And they’d give them a free beer or two, too.)

Though the club was clearly a labor of love (nobody was getting rich off of it, that’s for sure), its busy days were behind it. That, combined with the hit of the pandemic and Putnam’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis, made the family feel like it’s time to say goodbye to the Way Out Club so Putnam can enjoy his retirement.

But if you’re looking to pop in to say goodbye to your former home-away-fromhome, you’re in luck. The club is hosting a string of farewell shows starting July 1 and running through July 31 with bands, poetry and movies.

While Putnam is still working on finalizing the lineup, he says that he’s been flooded with offers from performers to play one more time and that there will surely be some St. Louis favorites on deck. His main goal is to have one big, fun party as a proper goodbye to the legendary St. Louis venue.

“I want to go out like I did when I was working there,” Putnam said. “I’ve known all of these people for 25 or 30 years.”

He will turn 76 during the farewell, and Putnam wants to go out with a bang. If it’s your birthday during that week, too, maybe Putnam will even make you his famous Birthday Drink. (Pro tip: Share it with a friend. It’s huge, it’s blue-green, it tastes like Pixy Stix and it gives you an instant hangover.)

Keep an eye on the Way Out Club’s Facebook page (facebook.com/wayoutclub) for information about the farewell festival. n