Gold Coast rooftop bar expands with a vision to make sandwiches great again

A popular Gold Coast rooftop bar is expanding - and offering an “epic” new menu item, inspired by New York and Philadelphia.

A POPULAR rooftop bar in Southport is expanding following the purchase of a nearby cafe, with a vision to make sandwiches great again.

Mr PP’s Rooftop and Deli bought Southport cafe Percy’s Corner and will be using the cafe’s team and supplies to enhance its downstairs area, described by owner Ben Howe as a neglected space.

“We’ve had our deli space downstairs since we started and it’s just always been a bit of an unrealised potential,” Mr Howe said.

“We always wanted to do really amazing deli style food with whiskeys and wine, so we decided to take over Percy’s and bring that into the space.”

Mr PPs manager Daniel Jones with a Reubens toastie and a coffee. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

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The new addition to Mr PPs will see the lower level cafe open seven days a week from 7am while upstairs will continue to trade Wednesday through to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Percy’s Corner was owned by Mr Howe’s brother and wife, who sold the business to concentrate on their other business and study.

The downstairs delicatessen will champion an often underestimated food group and one of Mr Howe’s two great food loves: sandwiches.

“The main part will be epic sandwiches,” Mr Howe said.

“I love pizza and I love sandwiches — when I was at uni I had a sandwich club.

“It’s my favourite food. I’ve always wanted a really good sandwich in Southport, something you get in Philadelphia or New York.

Mr PPs staff member Sara Bogdanovic serving in the sun. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“We’re going to start to run boutique subs and the hero main sandwich will be the duck meatball sub, then we’re combining it with awesome coffee. It’s a really good collaboration.”

Mr Howe said the downstairs area and attached laneway will be upgraded with extra greenery and European-inspired trimmings.

“We’re adding in lots of plants, we’ve got bougainvillea and in the next few months that’ll start growing out to the side of the roof,” he said.

“Then we’ve got the big wide barn doors that open out to the space, we’ve got the old marble tops like one of those Greek espresso bars. It’s a little bit of a different offering.”

Mr PPs deli will open this week with a soft launch, with the full menu and offerings expected to be available from March.