MOUNT Isa entrepreneur Vipul Gupta has lately been sleeping as little as two hours between long working days, making sure his new business is a success.
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Fortunately for him his new investment, Brew & Scoop, serves a strong coffee.
The new coffee and ice-cream shop in West Street officially opened last Friday, although Mr Gupta invited a small gathering of family and friends to celebrate the opening of his sixth business the evening before opening.
Attendee Irene Posadas said she loved the effect the new store would have in the central business district.
“We would like to see West Street come back to its former glory,” she said.
Another attendee, Glenda Pastoor, was impressed with the coffee she was served.
“I do not drink coffee. I hate coffee but that coffee is beautiful,” she said.
Mr Gupta decided to buy a coffee shop because he moved to Mount Isa about six years ago as the manager for the then existing Gloria Jeans.
“Since then I knew that with the personality I had and the customers I had when I leave I would miss those times and miss those experiences,” he said.
“Since then the customers who I served when I left Gloria Jeans, they always used to remind me how good the services used to be, how good the coffees used to be and how good the atmosphere used to be.
“I said to myself that day I will one day own my coffee shop, where they will get the same when I was at Gloria Jeans; best atmosphere, best coffee and best customer service in town.”
Mr Gupta bought the business Sweet Tooth Gelato, which was in Miles Street. He wanted the store to be more visible so he moved it to West Street.
He then spent close to $100,000 on renovations to give Brew & Scoop a “rustic” appearance, putting care into the seating arrangements to suit all types of customers, whether it be for a gathering place, closed in nook, or a traditional eating space.
Mr Gupta’s aim in the design was to make it casual and calming.
He acknowledged there were an increased number of coffee stores in Mount Isa recently. Such places include the second Bambino store and the more recent Caffeine Nook, at Bella Duck.
But he believed there were enough customers for all the coffee shops if they focused on quality, customer service, and delivery.
