Jeppo’s Gelato Bar in Cleveland closes

A popular Bayside cafe has lost the fight against rising rental prices and lasting pandemic impacts, leaving locals devastated.

With the extreme increase of rental prices and lack of business, the Bayside community has seen business after business pack their bags and close their doors to the community.

Jeppo’s Gelato bar in Cleveland, has been the latest business to fall victim and has appeared to have closed up shop for good, leaving holiday goers without their favourite hit of sugar on their mid-year break.

Cleveland local, Tony Morrison, said Bloomfield St has just not been the same since rental surges and COVID-19.

“Where are all the people?” Mr Morrison said.

“It’s a bloody ghost town.”

Jeppo's Gelato closed, chairs up, equipment packed down.

He said small business owners have no chance of success in the area.

“It's like if you put your shop in there you’re damned, you’re doomed,” he said.

Locals have said that Jeppo’s Gelato Bar appears closed up for good with chairs and equipment packed down.

A post from Jelappo’s Facebook page revealed the owners were trying to sell the business back on May 30.

“Apparently they tried to sell it, because rent was really high,” Mr Morrison said.

Locals have been devastated by the news of the business closing.

More than 100 people spoke out on Facebook about their sadness at the demise of the popular shop.

Elaine Griffith posted:

“Not surprised, Cleveland has become the dead centre of the Redlands,” she wrote.

Valerie Taylor wrote:

“Too many places have closed in Cleveland, very sad.”

The owners of Jeppo’s are uncontactable.