Legendary Bookshop Opens Cafe

Local News, By Travis de Jonk, 20th May, 2009

Hares & Hyenas is so much more than a bookshop – it’s a queer Melbourne institution, and the much loved bookstore and community hub has started a new chapter by opening a café bar in its Fitzroy location.

The new café and bar, designed by a local architect Lisa Brennan, opened officially to the public last Sunday 17 May. Once fully completed it will seat around 20 people, and it is the first major change the bookshop has planned since moving two years ago to its new home on Johnson Street.

Hares and Hyenas began life back in December 1991, in the southside Melbourne suburb of South Yarra. Back then it was located along the Commercial Road gay strip, and it quickly became a queer landmark in the area. After 15 years at that location, the owners Rowland Thomson and Crusader Hills decided it was time to move out and expand.

“There was outcry! Not only were we closing up and moving, but we were moving from the South-side to North-side. But the social landscape of the [Commercial Road] area was changing, and I guess we needed a change too. There were people who doubted we would survive, but we always knew we would,” says Thomson.

Hares and Hyenas is Melbourne’s most visible and known place to find queer specific literature, entertainment and art. In many ways, for much of the community, it is an index of everything queer. Almost two decades on business is still booming, but so is the range of queer products, events and community related activity that happens at Melbourne’s premiere queer bookshop.

“We understand that what we have created here is far more than a bookshop. It’s a non threatening place of discovery, of identification, of connection with our community which is unlike many other outlets available. It’s a place of ideas and visuals. It’s a place of belonging. For a long time Hares and Hyenas has been a place where people meet up and get together.”

Given that the bookshop has just recently turned 18 years old, Thompson says that it’s a coming of age for the business.

“It’s very fitting that these new and positive changes are happening now. We have a very Taoist approach to celebrations though!” laughs co-owner Thomson.

“We have many events here throughout the year, and in a way they are like a whole series of little celebrations. We are planning to have a big birthday bash for our 20th anniversary. Luckily, that gives us plenty of time, because we like to take things slow and easy.”

Thompson says that they’ve wanted to open a café ever since they moved into our new Fitzroy home.

“It’s a natural next step. The café opening was huge, and there’s since been a steady stream of people who are just discovering it. We’re still early days, but it’s already marvellous!”

Check out our photos from Tom Cho’s ‘Look Who’s Morphing’ book launch at Hares and Hyenas here.