{"id":22349,"date":"2022-12-07T16:33:44","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T05:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purefinance.com.au\/?post_type=stories&p=22349"},"modified":"2022-12-16T09:57:07","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T22:57:07","slug":"mikey","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/www.purefinance.com.au\/stories\/mikey\/","title":{"rendered":"Mikey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After making the move from London to Leichhardt over a decade ago, it\u2019s hard to imagine Sydney\u2019s hospitality scene without Mikey. Now, the Continental Deli front man has put down roots with his first apartment on Gadigal Land in Sydney\u2019s Inner West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mikey is the first to admit owning property wasn\u2019t really on his radar. \u201cI always thought I would rent all my life,\u201d he shares. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a gentle nudge from close friends who\u2019d recently bought themselves, Mikey soon had his sights set on a bright, ground-floor apartment just a 10-minute stroll from his current rental. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not surprising it took Mikey over 11 years to find a permanent base in Sydney. The London bartender made the move to Australia and was soon sponsored to \u201cstick around\u201d in Australia for good. \u201cOne thing led to another and we ended up opening Continental Deli,\u201d explains Mikey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deli is a home away from home for many Sydneysiders. Positioned right on Australia Street in vibrant Newtown, it\u2019s hard to miss the cured meats, cheeses and signature canned goods waiting behind the weighty red door. \u201cIt\u2019s an environment where you escape the outside world\u2026 you\u2019re transported to a space where you can eat and drink as much or as little as you want and you\u2019ll be looked after,\u201d shares Mikey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Mikey<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Despite being the Operations Manager behind the group\u2019s three venues (Continental Deli in Newtown and the CBD as well as the newly opened Bar Louise up the road in Enmore), Mikey isn\u2019t a fan of labels. \u201cI\u2019m a glassy, a bartender, a host, a section waiter - I do everything that needs to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This straight-shooting approach carried through as Mikey put the wheels in motion to buy his first property. With so many moving parts (from finance to engaging solicitors), Mikey was grateful to have support by his side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat took the stress out of the process was having the clarity of what I\u2019m capable of purchasing and knowing how much I could spend\u2026 once I got that comfort and reassurance it made the process very doable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it wasn\u2019t always a top priority, Mikey saw the value of owning his own place, too. \u201cFrom my position working in hospitality, even having a piece of the pie, you\u2019re never going to advance financially if you don\u2019t buy a property. I think it's a very solid move to make,\u201d tells Mikey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tucked away in a small block of nine in Leichhardt, Mikey scored the keys to his apartment early in 2022. \u201cLeichhardt is very local and has a small town sort of vibe which I love - it feels very separate from the rest of Sydney.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Mikey<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Quick to put his own stamp on the space, he set about making a few initial renovations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe flooring was the first thing that we did. When I first walked in, it was all loose old timber. So we did the flooring then the skirting boards and we took the cabinet out of the bathroom. That left the wall a bit shitty so that started the process of painting the whole place and making it feel really smick and nice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One look around the space is all it takes to see how much Mikey loves his home. The walls are covered in pieces from local Sydney artists and fellow hospitality talent. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I was [a big art fan] but I look around now and it\u2019s all local artists that I know from either the restaurants or people that I\u2019ve served and built up friendships with over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are lino prints from artist and Swillhouse Art Director Allie Webb<\/a>, paintings from artist and Shady Pines\u2019 glassy Max Berry<\/a> and custom pieces by Mikey Freedom<\/a> (who also happens to be the artist behind much of the art you\u2019ll find at Contential Deli\u2019s restaurants, too). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m really lucky to have a pretty close relationship with Mikey [Freedom] so he was able to create something that\u2019s specific to me and my character. You stare at it and you see wine bottles and palm trees and it's pretty special.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Loungeroom<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Artworks<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Mikey<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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As you\u2019d expect, Mikey has big plans to continue adding his touch to the place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a constant work in progress. It\u2019s just like the Deli, we\u2019re seven years in and we just started painting a wall and we\u2019ve got an artist working on a couple of pieces for us. Then next month, they\u2019ll be something else - whether it\u2019s a piece of equipment or new furnishings\u2026 it\u2019s a constant work in progress there and here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mikey\u2019s top picks for eating and drinking in his new neighbourhood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Golden Gully<\/a> - a great local bar in Leichhardt with a real sense of community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bar Sport Leichhardt<\/a> - \"the perfect spot to watch the World Cup.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cherry Moon<\/a> - \u201cthe best bakery in the country\u201d. Don\u2019t miss the Russian honey cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penny Fours<\/a> - for \u201cthe best croissants in Sydney.\u201d Keep an eye out for their new outpost in Balmain, opening in February 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thinking about purchasing your own home? Discover <\/em>how to buy a property in 7 easy steps<\/em><\/a> with our guide as well as the <\/em>tips every first home buyer needs to know<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":22351,"template":"","stories_categories":[9],"class_list":["post-22349","stories","type-stories","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","stories_categories-home"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAn art-filled first apartment for a Sydney hospo veteran<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s hard to imagine Sydney\u2019s hospo scene without Mikey. 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