Success story behind popular Toowoomba ‘dessert destination’ Gelatissimo

This popular dessert spot has been through four rebrands, survived Covid-19 lockdowns, a cost-of-living crisis, and it is still as popular as ever. Find out how Toowoomba’s only gelato shop has been such a success.

Gelatissimo Toowoomba has been recognised for their amazing work with the community in the 2025 Gelatissimo Gala Awards on May 22.

Popular catch-up spot and Toowoomba’s main ‘dessert destination’ Gelatissimo has been in the heart of town for years, and is as popular as ever.

Toowoomba Gelatissimo owner Gary Wilson said the popular dessert shop has been through 13 years of changes and growth in the Garden City and the store has become more than just about the delicious frozen treat.

“Connecting with communities is not something that happens straight away, it’s actually quite a long road to make that connection,” he said.

“For the younger people, around the city there’s not a lot of places to go.

“We’ve become that meeting place in the city.”

Mr Wilson said the team goes out of their way to get involved in community events and Gelatissimo has been recognised for their amazing work.

Gelatissimo Toowoomba has been recognised for their amazing work with the community in the 2025 Gelatissimo Gala Awards on May 22.

Mr Wilson and the team at Toowoomba Gelatissimo took home the National Community Award at the Gelatissimo Gala on May 22 in Adelaide.

“It’s obviously a great achievement to show that we’ve done a lot of work in the Toowoomba community,” he said.

“We’ve tried to help the community and in response, the community is now helping us.”

The store is involved in the Carnival of Flowers, local club teams including the Rangeville Hockey Club, Empire Theatre productions, the annual Christmas Wonderland event, and cancer fundraising events.

Mr Wilson said location is key, but even in their prime storefront on the corner of Margaret and Ruthven streets it still hasn’t been easy.

“There’s been significant changes over those 13 years, in particular when Grand Central Shopping Centre was basically opened in 2017,” he said.

“It sucked the life out of the CBD and the street precinct.

“The streets became very quiet and so that was a really big hit, because we had no foot traffic.”

Gelatissimo Toowoomba has been recognised for their amazing work with the community in the 2025 Gelatissimo Gala Awards on May 22.

The store stayed open during Covid-19 lockdowns and got into delivery options for the business.

“We’ve also seen that confidence in business is up and down with the economy,” he said.

“We’ve obviously managed to get through most of that and we’ve now seen, you know, quite a lot of growth in store, particularly over the last three years.

“It’s a matter of just continuing with what we’re doing and keeping in touch with the community.”

The store was established during the Carnival of Flowers in 2012 and Mr Wilson said that is still their most exciting and busiest time of the year.

Gelatissimo gets involved in the festival and usually create a few special flavours specific to the carnival and can only be found in Toowoomba.