Casa Mia owner Mario Grimaldi shares outrage at state of ‘dying’ Ipswich CBD

The owner of a popular Ipswich restaurant has said it is now down to residents to band together and transform the “dying” city centre “into something real”, as ‘for lease’ signs, graffiti, and litter continue to crop up across the CBD. SEE THE VIDEO

A well-known Ipswich business owner has unleashed on an online tirade about the state of the city’s business district, criticising the enormous number of vacant shops in comparison to the few operating ones.

Italian restaurant Casa Mia’s Mario Grimaldi shared a nearly three-minute video to his business’ Facebook page where he spoke to the camera on his phone from the corner of East and Brisbane streets.

“Look, I’m sick of this,” he said.

“Look at these beautiful old buildings here. No one’s leasing them out.

“There’s no one here, there’s no business here.”

He looked across the road, reading a number of ‘for sale’ and ‘for lease’ signs taped to the windows of shopfronts, before crossing and panning his camera across the graffiti-covered buildings along Bell St.

“No business to be found anywhere,” he said.

Mr Grimaldi urged his followers to support small businesses and reject giant corporations because “all they do is eat us up and spit us out”.

'For lease' signs remain a prominent feature of the Ipswich CBD. Picture: Jessica Baker

“I’m sick of seeing these vacant shops, empty shops. What a waste,” he said.

“People (are) unemployed. This country is a joke, absolute joke. We can do better.”

But Mayor Terea Harding said bringing the CBD back to life had been a key focus for Council after it had been “left to fall into disrepair’’ by the previous administration.

“After just over two years since its election, this council is starting to see the positive outcomes of its focus and investment in Ipswich Central as vacancy rates in the precinct are now at an all-time low,’’ she said.

“Council’s significant investment in the Nicholas St Precinct is not only boosting pride and foot traffic in the Ipswich CBD, but has also led to a rise in investor confidence.

“Since June last year, 21 new businesses have commenced trading in Ipswich Central.

“The heart of our city is attracting interest and securing investment from local and interstate investor groups that see Ipswich’s investment potential.

'For lease' signs remain a prominent feature of the Ipswich CBD. Picture: Jessica Baker

“In a promising sign, local commercial agents report that the majority of sales have been businesses buying their respective premises in Ipswich Central to trade from, not just investors to lease out.

“This is a strong indicator of investor and business confidence on the back of council’s revitalisation efforts.’’

A number of businesses, including gelato eatery Gelatissimo and Terry White Chemmart, have opened in the $250 million refurbished Nicholas St Precinct nearby.

Other popular eateries set to open their doors at the precinct in the coming months include Zambrero, That Dumpling Place, and Sushi Hyo.

Mr Grimaldi said he believed the main reason for the area’s decline, which he thinks has remained steady since he arrived in 2013, is directly related to the construction of Riverlink Shopping Centre in the northern area of the CBD.

“It created jobs and everything, but they didn’t really think about what they were leaving behind,” he said.

“So now we’re left with not just the shops that moved over (from the CBD to Riverlink), but it’s spread.

“With businesses, you need people. You take the people away and other businesses are going to fail.”

'For lease' signs remain a prominent feature of the Ipswich CBD. Picture: Jessica Baker

This comes after a number of Riverlink Shopping Centre retailers shared their distress at the perceived risk the Nicholas St Precinct project posed to their jobs and family businesses.

Mr Grimaldi said he was of the understanding a significant proportion of shops in the new precinct were still available for lease, which he put down to low foot traffic and exorbitant rents.

The restaurant owner said the city centre is now “worse than it’s ever been” and in desperate need of love and attention, not only from the state and local governments but also from residents.

He plans to host a meeting in the coming weeks and challenge local business owners and governments to donate a building where residents can host events that will return foot traffic to the area and “transform (the CBD) into something real”.

“That’s how you rebuild a city, you’ve got to get the people behind it,” he said.

“I want to remind the city of Ipswich how powerful we are when we work together.”

He said housing — both private and public — should also be a priority for the area.

“We’ve got the room and the space and a city’s that’s dying,” he said.

“I reckon we can make a change.”

Cr Harding said 20 more new tenants were expected to be in place over the next 12–18 months.

“Council has committed $41.5 million in its 2022-2023 Budget to the next phase of work in the Nicholas St Precinct redevelopment to continue building on the current momentum we are seeing in Ipswich Central,’’ she said.

“We are also investing in the broader Ipswich Central precinct through Council’s Facade Improvement Program.

“Council has contributed to 24 building improvements worth $752,326 through the program, working in partnership with established businesses to modernise and improve the Ipswich Central streetscape.

“We also recognise that further work is needed to improve areas around Bell St and the Health Plaza and the Ipswich Transit Centre.’’

Bell St, Ipswich. Picture: Jessica Baker

But she said they were State Government controlled.

Ipswich Central Redevelopment Chair, Marnie Doyle, said the Nicholas St Precinct program was “sending a message loud and clear that our city centre is open for business and ready for

investment’’.

“The Bell St Working Bee has seen many improvements and now presents a much friendlier

welcome to the city for those arriving by train or bus,’’ Cr Doyle said.

“Working with the Ipswich Central Partnership, Local First Nations artist Tallman has painted street furniture in Bell Street with unique and unifying designs.

“Tallman’s presence and work has reduced graffiti, decreased anti-social behaviour and significantly improved the aesthetics on the street.

“Council has also engaged with five local high schools to paint the boards on one of the buildings to encourage a sense of arrival through creative artworks – this is the Living Breathing Gallery and a welcomed addition to Bell St.’’

She said some of the empty buildings in Bell St and Ipswich Central were State Government property but Council continued to work with the government to find a solution.