A Warwick man who went from being homeless in Australia to running nine hospitality venues, is returning to his hometown to launch a new business.

Danny Simmonds moved to Australia 15 years ago as a backpacker, arriving with very little and eventually finding himself homeless in Melbourne.

At one point, he slept under boats on St Kilda Beach and even washed his clothes in a McDonald's bathroom as he struggled to get by.

However, Danny's luck changed when the manager at the McDonald's brought him in, handed him a clipboard, and offered him a job.

After working at the fast food chain, Danny went on to build his career in hospitality and soon started his very own business.

At the peak, Danny operated nine venues across Australia at the same time.

His businesses included coffee roasteries, American diners, sandwich franchises, cocktail bars and Caribbean-inspired restaurants, collectively employing over 120 people and generating millions in annual revenue.

Danny even went on to be recognised as one of Australia's Top 30 Hospitality Influencers.

However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Danny found himself unable to visit home and he spent almost five years without seeing his family in Warwick.

When travel restrictions finally eased, Danny returned to Warwick - a visit which he expressed changed his outlook completely.

"I spent three weeks in Warwickshire and something shifted in me completely. When I landed back in Australia afterwards, the magic had gone. I realised my heart wasn't there anymore. I knew I had to find a way home permanently, which meant strategically selling assets, restructuring my life and walking away from everything I had built over 15 years in Australia."

Upon noticing a unit still for sale in Market Place during his last visit home, Danny identified it as the perfect location to launch his new enterprise, Milkbar Deli.

Explaining his relocation to Warwick, Danny highlighted: "My heart is in Warwick. I want to build a community here now."

He went on to explain Milkbar Deli will be the first of three new concepts.

The store will be a heritage-inspired gourmet sandwich and specialty coffee concept, inspired by the nostalgic Australian milk bars Danny grew up around, combined with everything he has learned building venues across Australia.

The concept focuses on premium grilled cheese toasties, fresh focaccia sandwiches and Australian-quality specialty coffee, wrapped inside a visually-led interior inspired by old-world diners, Melbourne cafés and heritage hospitality design.

For Danny, this isn't just another venue launch. It's the beginning of bringing all the experience, creativity and culture he built abroad, back home in Warwick.

"I genuinely believe Warwick and the wider region are entering a new era for independent hospitality" added Danny.

With work on the new store nearly complete, aided by the efforts of Danny's close friends and family, Milkbar Deli is set to open in Warwick in September.