Hazem Sedda is probably the most popular man in Redfern.

For the last 15 years, Sedda has been the familiar face for those buying their milk and bread at the Redfern Convenience Store.

He started at the store as a teenager to help out his parents and has been running the store since he was 17 years old.

Sedda’s family moved to Australia from Palestine.

When he arrived in Australia he wanted to be a pilot and used the money he earned at the convenience store to pay for to study aviation.

But as he aged, he realised the convenience store life was what he loved most.

“The store did very well for me and allowed me to pay for my study,” he told Yahoo7.

“The first seven years I was doing 18 hour days, seven days a week”.

View photos Some of Hazem's customers. Photo: Instagram @Redfern_Convenience_Store More

View photos Hazem with some of his customers. Photo: Instagram @Redfern_Convenience_Store More

While he feels like he may have missed out on many things that the average person enjoys in their early 20s, Sedda’s work ethic allowed him to also start investing in property.

“I love real estate, I bought a lot when I was younger,” he said.

Now 30 years old, his investment decisions have paid off - to the point where he could leave the convenience store if he wanted to.

But he doesn’t.

“I have the money to be comfortable but I love what I do, the convenience store is my life,” he said.

Sedda’s new found free time has allowed him to focus on another passion: weightlifting.

View photos Hazem's customers often take part in his Instagram antics More

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