Sooshi Mango star Joe Salanitri has sold his Melbourne family home for a tidy $1.18 million, marking the end of more than a decade in the three-bedroom unit.
The Mount Waverley property went under the hammer on Saturday and the auction saw Joe walk away with thousands of dollars in profit.
A $900,000 opening bid set the scene for what turned into a spirited contest, eventually selling for $80,000 above its $1.1 million reserve.
The comedian, who rose to fame alongside his brother Carlo Salanitri and friend Andrew Manfre, is a household name across Australia thanks to their viral skits celebrating Italian and Greek culture.
The trio have also toured the world, host the popular Saucy Meatballs podcast, and run a restaurant in Melbourne dining hotspot Lygon Street.
‘Who would not want to be part of comedy history? You can brag to your friends,’ joked the auctioneer on the day.
Sooshi Mango star Joe Salanitri has sold his Melbourne family home for a tidy $1.18 million, marking the end of more than a decade in the three-bedroom unit
The unit features contemporary architecture, spacious rooms, a light-filled lounge and dining area and a kitchen fitted with stone benches, all of which ensured its popularity with potential buyers.
It is also close to a variety of amenities, including being just a short walk from Dampier Creek Reserve, dining facilities, schools and public transport.
Speaking after the sale, Joe said he was ‘pretty calm’ before the auction but admitted he ‘couldn’t believe’ the profit he made, he told Realestate.com.au.
The move was prompted by Joe and his family’s need for more space – including room for the extensive collection of costumes he uses in Sooshi Mango’s shows.
‘People think we’re moving to Toorak, but we’re staying in Mount Waverley,’ Joe quipped.
He added with his trademark humour: ‘Before moving, I’ve got to make sure I take the cash I’ve buried in the backyard.’
The family plans to celebrate the sale with a trip to their Lygon Street restaurant.
According to the auctioneer, 47 families inspected the property during its campaign, reflecting Melbourne’s bustling auction market.
The Mount Waverley property went under the hammer on Saturday and the auction saw Joe walk away with thousands of dollars in profit
A $900,000 opening bid set the scene for what turned into a spirited contest, eventually selling for $80,000 above its $1.1 million reserve
Located in Mount Waverley, 23km from the CBD, the property boasts a thoughtful open-plan layout and a large backyard with ‘plenty of concrete’.
Speaking to the Herald Sun about their renovations, Joe joked: ‘I have made sure I boosted the concrete in the backyard, and that’s been watered constantly.’
On a more serious note, the comedian said the couple had ‘done up the garden’ and rendered the façade and modernised what was originally a modest mid-20th-century home.
Highlights include polished floorboards and a beautiful kitchen featuring stone benchtops and a breakfast nook.
Other attractive features include an entertainers’ courtyard, and a private front yard with synthetic turf.
The unit features contemporary architecture, spacious rooms, a light-filled lounge and dining area and a kitchen fitted with stone benches, all of which ensured its popularity with potential buyers
It is also close to a variety of amenities, including being just a short walk from Dampier Creek Reserve, dining facilities, schools and public transport
Joe’s comedy team Sooshi Mango regularly parodies Greek and Italian culture in their various skits, playing nonnas and ethnic dads in their viral videos.
In 2023, the trio made a dramatic career change after founding Johnny, Vince and Sam’s Italian-themed restaurant in Melbourne’s famed Lygon Street entertainment precinct.
Modelled after a ‘typical’ Nonna’s home-kitchen, the eatery has proved so popular since opening that the trio had to expand their space and add a new dining room.
The name of the eatery derives from three characters – ‘Ethnic Dads’ – the boys created for their comedy act.
