Cronos Café & Collectables is owned by husband and wife Michael and Teresa Shields. (Ella Barnes/Commuinty Impact)
Husband and wife Michael and Teresa Shields fused two of their individual interests–comics and coffee–when they opened Cronos Café & Collectables, a coffee and comics shop.
A family affair
Teresa found her love for coffee and gelato while studying abroad in Italy, and Michael grew up reading comics and stuck with them.
After selling their pet crematory business in 2022, the Shields decided to open Cronos in 2023 with a goal of providing a cozy, welcoming space for the Cypress community that blended both their interests, Teresa said.
“Where I came from, my other businesses, this [Cronos Café & Collectables] was a departure,” Michael said. “I wanted to see people with a smile on their face instead of a frown.”
With the walls of Cronos lined with figurines and comic-inspired decor, Michael said it took him weeks to set up the cafe in the way he wanted. Teresa added that comfort was the main focus for the cafe.
What they offer
Cronos Café & Collectables’ menu consists of a variety of drinks, bakery items, gelato and more. The coffee selection includes lattes, blended frozen coffee, French press, cold brew and more. Teresa said their most popular drink is the Yoda, a pistachio caramel latte.
The Yoda (medium $7.25; large $7.75) is a pistachio caramel latte paired with a Pumpkin Pie Bar ($4.75).Courtesy Cronos Café & Collectables
Bakery options range from cinnamon rolls and cookies to Cachitos, a Venezuelan pastry with ham and cream filling. For a sweet treat, Cronos offers rotating gelato flavors with its most popular flavor being Stracciatella, Teresa said.
On the collectibles side, Cronos sells comics, baseball cards, figurines, Pokémon cards, Magic: The Gathering cards and more. The cafe hosts events and meet-ups such as Dungeons and Dragons, or D&D, sessions, Teresa said.
“We have some loyal customers that come here,” Teresa said. “I have gotten to know so many new people that are just amazing; all walks of life, old, young.”
Cronos Café & Collectibles offers a variety on comics, figurines and more.Ella Barnes/Community Impact
Staying local
When picking Cronos Café & Collectables’ future home, Teresa said she knew it needed to be near a school; growing up, she spent a lot of time at a local coffee shop.
Being just down the road from Goodson Middle School, Teresa said Cronos sees lots of after-school traffic–especially on Fridays.
“That’s the kind of community we live in… We see a lot of kids coming on their bikes, coming in, hanging out and I just love that,” Teresa said.
Along with comics and eats, Michael said there is a wide variety of free games to play at Cronos including board games, Pac-Man, a pinball machine and more.
“We love to see kids in here, not on their phones,” Teresa said. “It’s amazing; especially when they’re playing D&D.”
Michael said what sets Cronos apart is its family-friendly and nostalgic atmosphere.
“We wanted to be a wholesome environment,” Michael said, “somewhere where people could spend some time, and enjoy themselves, and feel comfortable.”
