STORY: Theme restaurant in Türkiye's Ankara gains popularity
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 5, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 6, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:24
LOCATION: Ankara
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Iconic Cafe and Bistro in Ankara
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish) : AYKUT OZER, Owner Of Iconic Cafe And Bistro
3. various of the Iconic Cafe and Bistro in Ankara
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish) : YUSUF GOZUM, University student

STORYLINE:

A cartoon and film-themed restaurant in Türkiye's capital city Ankara has become a gathering point for fans of movies and cartoons.

The Iconic Cafe and Bistro located in a suburb of the Turkish capital offers a selection of coffees, cakes, and delicious fast-food dishes in an aesthetic space decorated with a very vast range of toy figures, posters, and life-size movie props.

Aykut Ozer, a collector and owner of the unique two-storey restaurant told Xinhua that people are hungry for experiences that get them out of their living rooms and into alternate realities.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish) : AYKUT OZER, Owner Of Iconic Cafe And Bistro
"This is the first place of the kind in Türkiye, and we hope to attract people from different parts of the country and beyond. Figures displayed here are collections produced in very small amounts with serial numbers. We have around 1,300 figures and our collections are steadily growing as movie icons continue to grow. And this is the result of 20 years of collecting."

The about 1,300 figures are from iconic movie franchises such as Star Wars, Superman, or Batman on display for children and adults in the museum-like eatery which also offers delicious beverages and meals.

Customers are in awe of the installations in the place offering them a playful atmosphere at the time when Türkiye is in the midst of a painful cost-of-living crisis.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish) : YUSUF GOZUM, University student
"There is something for all age groups and tastes here, anyone can find something that may appeal to them."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ankara.
(XHTV)