Melbourne Friend Keeps Calling Convenience Stores Milk Bars

MONTY BENFICA | Amusements | CONTACT

A Melbourne man visiting friends in Sydney has continued referring to convenience stores as milk bars, despite a minimal amount of dairy-based commerce taking place in the shop.

Tom (29), who arrived on Friday, first used the term while asking where he could buy cigarettes near his friend’s apartment.

“There’s a convenience store on the corner,” said his friend.

“Oh yeah, the milk bar is still open?” Tom replied.

Nick said he understood what Tom meant but felt the description was a little generous for a business primarily selling vapes, energy drinks and SIM cards.

“There’s no milkshake machine or anything,” he said.

“It’s just a guy behind a plastic sheet.”

The conversation was repeated later that evening when Tom announced he was heading down to the milk bar to get some cash out.

Nick said he was happy for his friend to call it whatever he wanted, but found himself picturing a different business every time.

“I keep thinking there’s some Greek family down there doing malted milkshakes and selling bags of mixed lollies.

“The guy in this one sells phone chargers and sex pills.”

Tom said he had never given the terminology much thought and was beginning to regret mentioning it.

“It’s just what we call them,” he said.