‘Heartbreaking’: Beloved Ipswich cafe, kitchenware shop Kitchentopia to close due to flooding

The owners of a beloved cafe in Ipswich’s CBD have made the “heartbreaking” decision to leave their shop after being hit by floods twice in 12 weeks and losing more than $25,000 worth of retail stock.

The owners of a popular Ipswich cafe and kitchenware shop are preparing to close the doors to their CBD location after losing more than $25,000 worth of retail stock in the February floods, only to be hit again by heavy rain weeks later.

Kitchentopia was inundated with 1.5m-high floodwaters in February 2022. Picture: Facebook / Kitchentopia

Husband and wife Nathan Letts and Sammi Zera said they made the “heartbreaking” decision to leave their shop, Kitchentopia, as they could no longer cope with the immense stress they felt every time it rained.

“We’ve evacuated twice in the last 12 weeks,” Ms Zera said.

“We’ve lost over $15,000 in stock ... (and) probably $25,000 in terms of retail stock.

“Plus we lost our furniture and revenue and so much more.”

Sammi Zera and Nathan Letts opened Kitchentopia at Brisbane St, Ipswich on July 13, 2020. Picture: Facebook / Kitchentopia

After the February floods, Ms Zera and Mr Letts had new furniture complete with flooding-friendly wheels built for and donated to them.

But Ms Zera said the anxiety she — who is usually “a very calm”, “very chill” person — experienced every time there it rained was simply not worth it.

“The shop is perfect ... except when 1.5m of water comes in here,” she said.

Kitchentopia is adored by Ipswich locals for its warm and cosy feel. Picture: Facebook / Kitchentopia

When the couple first moved into their Brisbane St store in July 2020 they knew it was at risk of flooding, but they thought they had five to 10 years.

“We just didn’t think it would happen so fast,” Ms Zera said.

“And it’s different when you think it’s going to flood compared to when it actually floods.”

In the 12 years before setting up shop in the CBD, Ms Zera and Mr Letts operated out of markets and pop-up locations.

Opening Kitchentopia was a dream come true for Ms Zera and Mr Letts. Picture: Facebook / Kitchentopia

Ms Zera said she would love nothing more than to be able to stay and serve coffee to Kitchentopia’s loyal customer base in its existing location, but the business has grown quickly and it is no longer possible to move everything out of the store as soon as it starts to rain.

She hopes they will eventually be able to relocate to another site in the CBD as she and her husband love the “community feeling” there, though she expects Kitchentopia will operate from a location at Ripley for several months while they search for the perfect place.

Portable furniture was made for and donated to Kitchentopia after the February floods destroyed much of the shop. Picture: Facebook / Kitchentopia

Ms Zera said she has adored chatting with customers, learning about and making coffees, and supporting other independent businesses over the past two years.

“We opened a shop, put stock in it and threw in some coffee, but it’s the community that helped make our shop what it is, I don’t think I’m biased when I say, only the best people came through our doors,” Ms Zera and Mr Letts said.

The pair plan to close their CBD location sometime in the coming weeks.

Originally published as ‘Heartbreaking’: Beloved Ipswich cafe, kitchenware shop Kitchentopia to close due to flooding