Is there any end to how far the influence of Star Wars extends? There's every kind of merch out there, there's a Star Wars themed nightclub happening in London this month and now, Australia’s first storm trooper-themed coffee and sandwich bar has just opened in Brisbane.
The Death Star Canteen was inspired by comedian Eddie Izzard and his skit called “Death Star Canteen.” Canteen owners Tanya and Glenn Morris say that after watching the comedian's hilarious skit they decided they wanted to open a real-life Death Star Canteen in Brisbane’s CBD.
Glen had been running Glen's Espresso - a coffee cart with an honesty box payment - at in the Brisbane CBD for seven years and he says opening a cafe felt like the next logical step.
The Death Star Canteen officially launched with an opening party that included a hypnotist and a theatre troupe who performed Shakespearean Star Wars dramatics.
So what's a Death Star? For those who've not been caught up in the Star Wars domination of so many facets of life, the Death Star is a moon-sized space station that houses the baddies in the Star Wars galaxy. Izzard's skit - performed in 2002 and re-imagined as an animated Lego skit on YouTube - was the comedian's take on what a canteen on the station might be like.
While the cafe is Star Wars themed, the owners want everyone to know that it is actually based off Izzard's skit.
"The cafe is often mistaken for being based on Star Wars. It was actually based on Eddie Izzard's hilarious sketch by the same name. We loved the idea of bringing a little bit of fun and frivolity into the CBD which can sometimes feel all too serious and stressful," Glen Morris tells SBS.
"We wanted to create a space that sparked in people that feeling of joy. Where people could have a bit of fun, relax and go back to their lives or the office recharged."
While the menu is familiar cafe fare (including some vegan options), there is a nod to Star Wars with the inclusion of penne arrabbiata (which features in Izzard's skit).
As far as the owners know, this is the first Death Star Canteen in the world but it is not the first Star Wars-themed eatery. From June 23 an official Star Wars pop-up restaurant will open in London providing a puntastic dining experience.
If you’re not in Brisbane (or London) you can try out other themed cafes such as a Hello Kitty diner in Sydney, a Breaking Bad-themed café in Queensland and a Titanic-themed restaurant in Victoria.
