The Shop & Wine Bar

MEET OUR LOCALS ✨ Lucy from The Shop & Wine Bar

“I started working here and I just fell in love with it. 

I didn’t even know how to make a coffee!

I thought it was the most amazing small business. The first small licensed business in Sydney, 15 years ago. That was so unusual at the time.

I became the barista, then the cook. 

It used to be so busy that we had people on milk crates up the street, I used to have to climb out the window to serve them! 

Sometimes the customers would help with the dishes, because I was on my own. 

I met my husband Mikey here. I think that’s the best bit about this story!!

He quit his job so I said ‘why don't you come and work at The Shop’? 

We loved working together and just grew more and more in love.

One day we realised we needed to buy this place, it felt like home and we just had so much passion for it.

The owner said ‘Couldn’t have had better people buy it’

Mikey and I always knew what we wanted it to be, to have more food, be sustainable and above all, be delicious and healthy.

He is the best barista in Bondi and best boss to our staff. He has so much passion even after 28 years!

I love to cook just as much, I think I read a cookbook once a day or look up recipes more than 10 times a day. (Laughs)

COVID was tough.  We didn’t know what was going on when everything started shutting down.  We were so lucky with our staff. I was able to step back and hire the people who couldn't get Jobseeker.

We just worked our ass off. Every day there was something to change, the website, the menus, the business plan.

And then the community… they were amazing! 

One of the mums at the local school posted about our Bloody Mary’s. We had mums lining up after their home schooling. Lining up for their Bloody Mary’s and margaritas takeaway.

Customers who have been coming here for over 10 years, would still park outside for a takeaway coffee everyday.

Or they’d hand in some money and say ‘this is for all my breakfasts I will miss while in lock down.’

They would take home packs of meatballs and anything to help us through this tough time. Everyone just pitched in.

The best thing about running this place is the incredible community around us.

And all the friends we have made.

We are so grateful everyday and never take anything for granted.”