After many years of methodically keeping scores on their giant blackboard, the owners of Bar Sport on Norton Street have decided to hang their boots up for good. This iconic café is still a precious piece of old Italian Leichhardt, which first saw a barista serving espresso coffee behind its counter as far back as in the 1950s.
Undoubtedly in its most recent history, brothers Joe and Franco Napoliello have made it much more than just a compact café and paninoteca in Little Italy. The pair over the last twenty- two years, really fortified the business with their own Italian-Australian character by sharing their obsession of European football with their customers. On one side of the room, game scores and teams where regularly updated at an instant in white chalk, whilst on the opposite end a wall mounted TV, which grew larger and larger over the two decades, acted as a focal point and indicator of the vibe inside upon entering the door. To passionate football supporters, walking in felt like home with a big screen constantly showing games and a spot to sit at to enjoy a snack and drink, all in the Italian bar way.
One can only imagine now how much the room got an energy boost when events like the FIFA World Cup was taking place. Asking Joe briefly on his last day to why the decision to sell the business, his response was that it’s been hard for them in the last few years post-Covid. Apart from struggling to find staff to help run the business, the Leichhardt area itself in his eyes, has changed dramatically with more younger families and professional moving into the neighbourhood.
He has no doubt however, that the new owners having youth on their side, will have another twenty years ahead of them in such a nostalgic place. For now, the boys intend just to rest up, recuperate and reset themselves with their Italian roots. A well-deserved break from the lengthy game they both just played.
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