High Street, a lively commercial artery in Melbourne, just got some very cool award-winning news. No wonder Time Out Magazine declared it the world’s coolest street! This recognition follows High Street’s successful bid to be crowned the UK’s best High Street having beat out 30 other finalists, a testament to its character and community. The street runs two kilometers from the city border at Preston through Thornbury to Northcote. It’s filled with beautiful heritage shopfronts, colourful street art and a quirky blend of shops and cafes that form this city’s bustling, creative culture.
The Menara family has been a central part of Main Street’s distinctive small town character. As the owner of Menara’s Bakery — the oldest retail bakery in the region — for 53 years, his infectious hospitality defines the Kortwright Road spirit. Though born in Australia and never having lived in Italy, he’s created a warm, Old World charm at his restaurant. His wife, Sonia Menara, shares his enthusiasm for food, stating simply, “Food is our passion and it has always been.”
The couple’s business draws a huge and diverse clientele — Greeks and Italians, of course, but people from all backgrounds. Their son, Gianni Menara, is deeply honored to be able to carry on the family tradition. He expresses his desire to connect with his ancestry through the family business, saying, “It’s how I wanted to connect with my ancestry back in Italy.”
The Preston Market is one of the many colorful gems that contribute to the cultural richness of High Street. It showcases the culinary talents of Tokyo’s varied and vibrant migrant communities. Over the past century, waves of migration have infused the area with culinary delights from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. One other local favorite is Lucchini Cakes, a traditional Italian treat shop that’s been stunning customers for generations.
John Zaccharia is yet another longtime fixture of the High Street scene. For him, the elegance of High Street’s effectiveness lies in its inclusivity. The secret sauce for High Street’s success is that it welcomes everybody. Each week, thousands of them flock to our city every Friday to shop in the Open Market. They like to have a conversation with a friend,” he says.
Yuni and Matthew Kenwrick, owners of Indonesian restaurant Yuni’s Kitchen, are in agreement with this. They would like for you to know that High Street welcomes seniors, children, families and all people from diverse backgrounds. Whether you’re elderly, a child, a goth or just landed from another country or don’t want speak much English. You can create this whole culture of opportunity to shop, to dine, and to really just allow people to be who they want to be,” they claim.
High Street’s sense of place comes alive within its daily, human transactions. Sonia Menara notes how customers form friendships with one another: “The customers that have come in, they’ve made friends with people that they didn’t know.” We hope that this warmth will carry through into the daily life of the street, where locals will come to meet, tell their stories and connect with one another.
“High Street really ticks all the boxes. It’s got really epic restaurants, cute hidden bars, great boutiques, and a really wonderful community spirit,” she commented. Glynn goes on to suggest that this recognition on a global scale proves Melbourne’s world-class charm is here to stay.
Emma Russell, High Street’s director, too, stresses the community focus of High Street. Due to this diversity, I believe it does reflect much of what’s great about Melbourne, she said. It’s not only retail, it’s community organizations and activities that take care of people and offer cultural programming for people of all different backgrounds and cultures.”
High Street bustles at every hour as a vibrant community melting pot of Filipino, Vietnamese and Mexican cultures and flavors. Its colourful history is indelibly stamped onto the soul of Melbourne. Sam Virgona notes that many people enjoy coming together at the market: “We are here. A group of us come in and have a coffee, have a chat, and we had a good time.”
