“I love coffee. It is what gives us life. And I promise you, our coffee is the best quality you’ll find in Ipswich.”
Don’t just take Rony Hassan’s word for it, head on down to Stellarossa in our emerging city heart to find out for yourself.
“I tested countless coffee options around the area to be 100 per cent sure I could offer the best. And I like to think that if I love it, then our customers will love it too,” Rony said.
Rony opened Stellarossa in the Nicholas Street Precinct one year ago and it is his mission to create a place that families can come to enjoy a meal and feel at ease.
“We’ve created a menu for the whole family where there is something for everyone. I want our café to be a place where families come back each week for a night out to enjoy a ‘home cooked’ meal,” he said.
Rony is a computer science engineer who began his life in Australia more than 25 years ago when he left his wife and extended family in Bangladesh to study a Master of Information System Management with a specialty in business analytics.
He has held statewide leadership roles for major brands such as Oporto, Red Bull and Liptons cold drinks, and opened a Sumo Salad with his wife when she joined him here in 2006. They now live in Spring Mountain with their two young children.
“I know brands and I know data, but my dream has always been to open my own business and have the chance to be my own boss,” Rony said.
“I love the culture of hospitality. The opportunity to chat with people every day and be a place that families gather.
“Running a hospitality business is so varied and multi-faceted, there is always something different to do.
“My training and experience in business analytics is just as important in a local café as it is for a national brand. I follow customer trends, create marketing strategies and work with our professional chef to prepare our changing menu to suit what our customers are looking for.”
Stellarossa Coffee began in Brisbane in 2009 and since then has expanded nationwide. All Stellarossa stores are locally owned and operated and engage with their local communities.
“It’s risky to open a business like this, and it has absolutely been a rollercoaster,” Rony said.
“But I know that with a little patience, we’ll see this area continue to change and attract more and more interest in the city heart.
“Bring your family and come in to say hello – I’d love to welcome you here.”
3 Questions for Rony
- Why did you choose the precinct to open Stellarossa?
Ipswich is on its way to being a major hub just like Brisbane, and I wanted to be a part of that growth. I was talking with Stellarossa for almost a year and a half before deciding on Nicholas Street Precinct for our home. Ultimately, we just knew that this area was going to grow and grow over the coming years. We wanted to be here to be a part of that transformation. - What does having a new precinct mean for Stellarossa?
In the past year we’ve already seen multiple new businesses opening up here and more and more people are coming to the area to enjoy the different activations that are on in Tulmur Place during school holidays and weekends. We’d love to see this just get bigger and better all the time. With the Nicholas Street Precinct light installation starting up again soon for the festive season, we hope families from across Ipswich come into the city heart to check it out and join us for a meal. We’d love to welcome you to our “home”. - What’s the future looking like for Stellarossa in the precinct?
There is a lot to look forward to here in the precinct. With the Venue opening next year as well as the Commonwealth Hotel, I know this area is only going to grow and get busier from here. With a little patience, we know it will be a busy hub once again – and we’re ready for it!
