Business opportunities abound as iconic cafe Nulla Nulla bought in Cronulla

There is plenty of business opportunity in Cronulla with at least seven restaurants, cafes and venues available for purchase, but one well-known joint has already been snapped up.

A new owner has taken the plunge and jumped into buying an iconic cafe in Cronulla as the market heats up with business opportunities in the beachside suburb.

Pawan Maharaj has taken over ownership of an “institution” in Cronulla, the well known Nulla Nulla cafe this week.

Mr Maharaj said the time was right for him to make a career change and, when he saw the business opportunity come up, he recognised the benefits of getting into the hospitality industry now that Covid lockdowns were finished.

“Since I was 14, I had that ambition and dream to enter the hospitality industry,” he said.

“Nulla cafe is a hallmark to Cronulla and being a new resident to the Shire, I fell in love with the place and this business came up for sale.

“I didn’t think I would get to buy Nulla Nulla but I took the chance.”

Business broker Angelo Fournaris (left), cafe manager Shannon Hawkins (middle) and new owner Pawan Maharaj (right), with staff members Grace Oldroyd and Matthew Endicott, are looking forward to the busy summer period under new ownership. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Mr Maharaj said he was cautious about buying a cafe after Covid because he didn’t know if or when the state would go into another lockdown but ultimately decided he would “never get another opportunity like this again”.

Mr Maharaj and his family moved to the Shire in recent years, and before that they used to visit on weekend and fell in love with location.

He became a regular of the cafe before purchasing the 28-year-old venue.

Mr Maharaj said running a cafe was quite different from his previous work in painting, maintenance and construction businesses, but “wasn’t scared” of the challenges.

He said there had been some teething problems, but he’d handled them well with the help of experienced long-term manager Shannon Hawkins who runs the front of house and day-to-day operations,

Mr Maharaj said it took a couple of months for the sale to go through and he was pleased to have gotten the reins prior to the busy Christmas and summer period.

Business broker Angelo Fournaris (left), manager Shannon Hawkins (middle) and new owner Pawan Maharaj (right) after the sale of iconic Nulla Nulla cafe in Cronulla was finalised. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Network Infinity business broker Angelo Fournaris, who sold Mr Maharaj the cafe, said Cronulla was an attractive suburb for business owners because of the location and repeat clientele.

He currently has at least seven businesses for sale including a licenced restaurant and cocktail bar, a licensed busy beachside venue, beachfront function centre, cafe, Mediterranean restaurant, takeaway cafe and a modern restaurant and bar.

Mr Fournaris said the owners of the businesses wanted to sell for various reasons.

“Some of owners wanted an established business, achieved their personal goals over time and want to move on to gain more experience,” he said.

“Other business owners want to wind down after Covid.

Cronulla has a well known food and drink culture for locals and visitors. Picture: Destination NSW

“They are exhausted from dusting themselves off and picking themselves up and Covid forced some owners into an early retirement or to downsize.

“But that means there are opportunities to buy local businesses at present.

“Cronulla being a seasonal location, the local area is brimming with clientele.

Mr Fournaris said new buyers were still cautious and wanted business that were “Covid proof”.

Mr Maharaj said he wanted to keep the cafe and staff at Nulla the same, with some cosmetic changes, but the menu would be similar.

The cafe over its decades-long history had gone through several renovations, but Mr Maharaj liked the family atmosphere, believing it offered a good menu, price and portion.

Mr Hawkins said they were looking at introducing an “afternoon drinks” offering with cheese boards, platters and snacks to accompany the breakfast, lunch and dinner options seven days a week.