Veteran Aussie Comedian Sells Melbourne Townhouse for $1.18M
A New Chapter for Joe Salanitri
Joe Salanitri, the beloved star of Sooshi Mango, has recently made headlines by selling his family home in Melbourne for a significant $1.18 million. This sale marks the end of over a decade spent living in a three-bedroom unit located in Mount Waverley.
The property was auctioned off on Saturday, and Joe walked away with thousands of dollars in profit. The auction began with an opening bid of $900,000, leading to a competitive bidding war that eventually resulted in the house being sold for $80,000 above its $1.1 million reserve price.
Joe, known for his comedic talent alongside his brother Carlo Salanitri and friend Andrew Manfre, has become a household name in Australia thanks to their viral skits celebrating Italian and Greek culture. The trio has also toured the world, hosted the popular Saucy Meatballs podcast, and run a restaurant in Melbourne's Lygon Street, a dining hotspot.
"Who would not want to be part of comedy history? You can brag to your friends," joked the auctioneer on the day.
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, as shared with 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 humor: "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.
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 modernized 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.
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.
Other Notable Sales
Why is comedic sensation Joe Salanitri selling his lavish Melbourne townhouse after a decade of stylish living?
Why are Brendan and Alex Fevola selling their exquisitely renovated $4.5m Melbourne mansion after just four years?
What jaw-dropping renovations did Charlie Albone's marvel in Maroubra undergo to fetch such a lucrative sale?
How did Sam and Snezana Wood's luxurious Melbourne mansion rocket to a jaw-dropping $6.6 million sale?
Why is the Josephson's lavish new 'Tuscan' abode making waves in Brisbane's elite real estate market?
