From classic novels to eclectic vinyl and American comics, new shop June Bug has popped up in Ramsgate to serve all your cult needs.

From classic novels to eclectic vinyl and American comics, new shop June Bug has popped up in Ramsgate to serve all your cult needs.

Named after the US rock band Melvins’ song June Bug (@junebug_ramsgate), the pop-up offers a varied collection of records alongside thousands of Marvel and DC comics, graphic novels and cult literature.

Owner Peter, who launched the venture just over a week ago, says much of the stock reflects his own tastes.

“That may not always be the best selling tactic, but people are coming in, they really like it, and as cheesy as it sounds, they’ve all got a story to tell,” he says.

“Everything here is used; we’ve got cult paperbacks, jazz records, punk and rock, and we do lots of American comics as well.

“Since I was a teenager I’ve always been buying books, records and comics and amassed a huge collection.

“I saw the chance to open something up here. I wanted to open one for a long time and Addington Street is perfect for it.”

Peter says he’s been an avid reader since his early teens and has always been drawn to American 60s writers and 70s sci-fi authors such as JG Ballard and William Burrows.

“I love fiction mainly, but always slightly leftfield stuff,” he says. “The books I’ve got here tend to fall under the category of cult fiction, so Penguin classics really, from the 1950s upwards, and some modern day stuff like Sally Rooney.

“I had five copies of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and I’m down to one now. It’s nice to see people coming in and snapping the books up.”

He’s also got a sizable collection of comics having amassed some 6,000 since he started picking them up when he was just eight years old.

“I’ve got loads of Marvel and DC stuff and also a lot of the graphic novels too in the shop,” he adds. “The comics are all mine and the books are 50% mine. The rest are ones I thought would be interesting to have here”

He’s also been buying up records for the past 10 years, which are now filling the shelves of his new shop.

“We’ve been busy, people are really friendly and so interesting,” he adds. “We had someone in earlier who was in a band in the early 80s and he supported The Fall, which is one of my favourite bands of all time.”

So what’s next after the pop-up ends on November 29? Could June Bug become a permanent fixture in Thanet?

“We’re hoping to get somewhere permanent, but it’s a case of finding somewhere.

“I’m also hoping to get some more stock so I’m hoping people will come in and sell me some books and records.”