Sam, you started Commune in 2012 as a co-working space in Erskineville. Since then it’s evolved into larger-scale events. What’s Commune all about today?
Commune is about bringing people together for social good – for the betterment of the world that we all live in. It’s a community space and I hope it’s a place that people come to and feel welcome, can meet new people, learn new things and feel part of something. Since that first space, which we still have near the Union Hotel, we’ve had three more – the last one being the big Waterloo space which most people know us for. We’ve now closed the Waterloo space as the buildings will be demolished soon.
Your new digs are on the site of the old Gould’s Book Arcade. What’s the plan for this space?
When we got the keys the space was still full with books. It took months. We went through everything by hand and kept things that we thought were a good representation of what the space was about, and what it meant to the community. We’re going to have a Bob Gould commemorative library with all the books we kept that we felt were representative of him. We’re getting help from his family to curate that. People will be able to come in, grab a coffee and read a book. It won’t be a bookstore, but it’ll still have a lot of Australiana, political and feminism books – any of those interesting topics that this store was known for. It was like going through a 40-year collection of someone’s livelihood, so I wanted to respect that.
Once open, what will Commune in Newtown offer?
We’re going to have a plant-based café and bar, and an event space. We’ll have our regular workshops, yoga classes and those sorts of things. We’ll do co-working, of course. The idea is to keep it themed around the period of 1972-'89, but there’ll be high speed internet and state-of-the-art software. All the furniture is from local deceased estates, or from locals who have really beautifully period-correct Australian-designed-and-made furniture. We're hoping to launch in the next few months.
Are you planning to run any large-scale events?
Waterloo’s space gave us the ability to run larger events like the Eid in the City and Our Hood, but the majority of what we did was for 200-400 people, which is what this new space can handle. My plan is to grow our larger events with the help of the council. I see this space as us pulling together everything that Commune is about and taking that forward and really focusing on everything that we stand for. I’m now co-founder of TEDxNewtown, and this will be its home, which gives us a chance to talk about topics that are relevant to the people of this area: diversity and inclusivity.
You consulted with the Newtown community at large when you first announced ownership of the iconic shopfront. What did you learn?
We had over 2,000 responses. People are saying they want to go to workshops, events and live music (I think a particular type of live music that’s missing in the area). People want a safe place – a place where they feel included and is accessible to them – so we’re making sure there are activities that are free or low priced, like yoga by donation, or having the library here so that you don’t have to do anything but you can come in and read a book. People want a great vegan place, which is what we’re going to be. People want nightlife that’s not just about drinking, which is what we’re going to have. It feels like we’re aligned with what the community is asking for.
You’ve lived and worked in the area, on and off, for 13 years. How has it changed?
Newtown is a great part of Sydney where individualism is celebrated and there’s a feeling of inclusivity and diversity. The obvious change for most people was after the lockout laws, which saw a shift in the numbers of people partying in Newtown, and the issues brought on by that. From what I’ve seen, housing developments have also brought in large amounts of people into very condensed areas that were once warehouses full of artists, or just industrial areas. It does affect the vibe here. Newtown’s been a great place for trying something new, and having a community that is really strong in its identity. I don’t think we’d have lasted for seven years anywhere else.
Where are your favourite places to eat out in Newtown at night?
My all-time favourite place is Cairo Takeaway. Being from an Egyptian family, it tastes like home. I love seeing them bring a new take to Middle Eastern food that I think has been missing from Sydney. Sometimes it’s 45 minutes to get a seat in there! Being vegan, I love going to Golden Lotus. I also love grabbing breakfast or dinner at Rising Sun Workshop – I love that you can sit amongst people working on their bikes, as I’m into motorbikes as well.
Where are your favourite places to shop in the evenings?
There’s a place called King of the Jungle, down on South King, which does cool vintage designer goods and they commission items from local fashion designers. If you ever need to get a gift on the run, Pentimento is one of the best places as you can find anything you need in there. I’m into old cameras and records, so Sydney Super 8 is good for vintage cameras and film and Repressed Records is great for some vintage vinyl.
Where do you send people for a nightcap in Newtown?
I don’t drink but there’s a cosy dive bar that serves the Inner West’s best mocktails, called the Midnight Special. They play eclectic tunes and there’s always service with a smile.
Any other local gems?
Newtown’s home to lots of people doing their best to support others, like Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, which doesn’t just help people in need but they also run great workshops and they organise Newtown Festival. Places like the Social Outfit and Lentil as Anything are doing really great things, giving back to the community. There’s a little hole-in-the-wall coffee shop called Grace and Taylor that roasts their own coffee. It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it little doorway. Dendy Newtown is a jewel on King Street, home to indie and foreign films. And Alpha House Gallery do great exhibitions by artists living in their artists’ co-op. In general, King Street is great for antique and vintage goods, which is what’s always attracted me to the area.
In spite of the name you can eat in at Cairo Takeaway, and it’s a good time. They put a lot of care into assembling their mixed plates and given their popularity, there might be a bit of a wait on your food. We can’t resist the smell of the grilled chicken doused in garlic and the lamb kofte packed with diced onion.
At the far south end of King Street you’ll find a vintage boutique that stocks rare designer finds from around the world. The vibe is more ’80s street style than 1950s housewife, and brands they’ve stocked before include Louis Vuitton, Kenzo, Viktor and Rolf, and Alexander Wang.
South King Street is earning itself a reputation as Sydney vegans' home turf, and one of its prized players is Golden Lotus, a Vietnamese eatery. This is the place to soothe your hangry with a massive laksa. The creamy soup has a thin, bright chilli heat to it, and in place of prawns or chicken there’s no less than four kinds of soy-based proteins.
Apart from being a calming escape from Newtown’s manic King Street, Pentimento houses an eclectic range of stationery, from notebooks decorated with cats in space suits to succulent-print pencil sets. They also stock affordable fountain pens and goal progress journals.
Open for brekky, lunch and dinner, Rising Sun Workshop – half motorcycle workshop and half café – is serving food with a Japanese bent. Their evening menu features spaghetti ramenese – ramen noodles and pork belly ragu– plus an excellent range of locally brewed beers and natural wines.
As well as being the go-to for local garage/indie/DIY releases, Repressed have some of the very best vinyl imports and reissues at the lowest prices (almost always under $30). They also stock 'zines and T-shirts.
South King Street is home to a not-for-profit enterprise that offers wholesome vegetarian food for a pay-by-donation fee. Diners are invited to decide what they think the meal is worth and pay accordingly, or simply to part with whatever they can afford.
The Social Outfit on King Street is a venture that specialises in ethically produced clothing, accessories and homewares made in collaboration with social enterprise projects. The store has a workshop upstairs and offers employment and training opportunities to people from migrant and refugee communities living in Sydney.
Dendy Newtown offers quality first releases, ten screens, super-comfortable seats, Dolby digital surround sound and a bar. There’s free parking for filmgoers in the Lennox Street car park behind the cinema – a definite plus on the often jam-packed King Street.
The worn-in, down-home atmosphere, belies expert cocktail, beer and wine chops and sophisticated bar bites. When the DJ isn’t spinning a set in the corner, live acts fill the air with rockabilly, blues and indie tunes.
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