Caloundra dad and business owner to open new cafe and bar in Baringa

A Caloundra businessman who almost lost his pizzeria during the pandemic is about to open a new ‘Americana’ style eatery in the heart of a Sunshine Coast industrial estate.

A Caloundra businessman is preparing to open his new eatery in a booming industrial estate after almost closing his pizzeria last year due to the effects of the pandemic.

Sean Cattell, 31, is the owner and soon-to-be head chef of Cartel Co, an upcoming cafe and bar being built in a 350sq m industrial warehouse at 29 Packer Rd, Baringa. It’s expected to open late next month, selling pizza, hotdogs, and smashed burgers.

“It’s real Americana [food],” he said.

Mr Cattell, owner of Peppers Pizza in Caloundra since 2018, said Covid-19 hammered his takeaway pizzeria between 2020 and 2021, forcing him to consider shutting down.

But his popular pizzeria stood strong, enabling him to build a bigger venture.

“It was crazy, that thought of, ‘are we going to close?’ to now,” he said.

Brittney Cattell, left, Boston Cattell, middle, and Sean Cattell, right.

Mr Cattell said Cartel Co – designed to have an industrialised, beer garden style – should triple the revenue of his pizzeria, given the new building, staff and opening hours – planned to open from 6am to 10pm.

“Ideally, the money follows,” he said.

Mr Cattell said he picked the business’s location because it was a “centralised” area, allowing for convenient access. He also predicted the popularity of his bar would be underpinned by its “real food“.

“It’s the best kind of comfort food, I find. It goes best when you’re hanging out with people and have a couple of drinks,” he said.

Mr Cattell, who welcomed his first son more than a month ago, said being able to shake off the pandemic and open a new business meant “everything” to him, adding that he wanted to turn Cartel Co into a generational business.

“It’s something I want to be doing forever,” he said.

Mr Cattell said he was now looking to sell his pizzeria as his focus shifted to the new venue.