Gelatissimo set to open at Ipswich’s Nicholas St Precinct in 2022

A dessert shop with a cult-like following is just one of several popular tenants recently announced for Ipswich’s Nicholas Street Precinct.

One of Australia’s most loved dessert franchises will set up shop at Ipswich in the coming months, joining other popular tenants in the Nicholas Street Precinct’s ‘Eats’ building.

Renowned for its innovative flavours, artisan gelato shop Gelatissimo will use fresh ingredients to concoct sweet treats in-store that the whole family can enjoy.

Gelatissimo CEO Filipe Barbosa said the latest franchise is sure to complement existing businesses within the $250 million refurbished precinct.

“We are thrilled to become part of the Nicholas Street hub and to bring our huge range of gelato flavours to suit all tastes including vegan, reduced sugar and deluxe range,” Mr Barbosa said.

The wildly popular gelato shop will open its doors at the Nicholas Street Precinct early next year.

Gelatissimo is highly regarded for being the largest business of its kind in Australia, with stores across the country as well as internationally in China, the Philippines, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, India, and the United States.

It has also amassed a cult-like following since opening in 2002, which is evident in its social media presence. Its Australian Facebook page has more than 170,000 likes and followers alone.

The beloved store will join That Dumpling Place, Terry White Chemist, and Oikos coffee van as tenants in the building adjacent to the new Ipswich Central Library on Nicholas Street.

Gelatissimo recently dropped a new ‘summer indulgence’ trio of flavours made with KitKat, including biscoff, hazelnut, and mint choc chip.

A major cinema operator will also join the precinct’s ranks in the new year, though exactly which one is yet to be revealed.

“We are another step closer to being able to announce an anchor cinema tenant which will strengthen the Ipswich Central vision as an exciting and engaging community hub, encourage other business operators to consider CBD commercial opportunities, and draw more visitors to our city’s centre,” Ipswich City councillor Marnie Doyle said.

“With the preferred cinema operator selected, we will enter a due diligence period to conclude legal documentation.

“While it’s too early in the process for us to reveal the name, I can say (the) council chose this cinema operator as it presented the best offer to council.”

The gelato business has opened more than 40 locations across Australia since its first opened at Sydney in 2002.

The tenant announcements come months after a senior council officer said talks were being held with “significant” unnamed businesses interested in moving into the development.

Construction of a new 24-hour gym and an extension of the Commonwealth Hotel, were recently confirmed to be commencing at the precinct in the new year. About 100 construction jobs are expected to be created in the two developments.

Cr Doyle said the council now has a “queue” of prospective tenants commencing legal negotiations with officers.