Sangaweech Opens on Melbourne's Lygon

The comedy trio Sooshi Mango consists of brothers Joe and Carlo Salanitri and their friend Andrew Manfre. The group, founded in 2015, gained popularity for their humorous skits portraying Italian and Greek immigrant family life, drawing inspiration from their own Sicilian heritage. Their online videos have amassed over 800 million views, leading to sold-out international tours and a podcast. Sangaweech is not the trio's first venture into the food industry; they previously opened Johnny, Vince & Sam's Ristorante, also on Lygon Street. This initial restaurant was a success, encouraging them to open a late-night sandwich shop just a few doors down. Both establishments are a testament to their desire to revitalize Lygon Street and celebrate its Italian heritage. The name "Sangaweech" is a playful take on the Italian-Australian pronunciation of "sandwich." The shop aims to evoke the feeling of a nonna's kitchen, with nostalgic decor like orange laminex benches and retro-patterned tiles. The menu is set to feature around ten to eleven different sandwiches, including options like prosciutto with mortadella and salami, and potato with sausage and peppers. Lygon Street has been the heart of Melbourne's Italian community since the 1950s, when Italian immigrants began opening businesses that infused the area with the flavors of their homeland. The street is recognized as the birthplace of Melbourne's café culture and was the first place in Australia to have an espresso machine. It is also home to Australia's first pizzeria, Toto's Pizza House, which opened in 1961.