A restaurant will open in months at the old H.Rehfisch & Co gun shop on Mair Street. 

The 115-year-old business moved out last year and moved into a purpose-built shop on Latrobe Street. 

The new restaurant will be called Free Time and owner Tony Gan, who owns Noodle Canteen in Wendouree, said he was looking forward to the move. 

“We want to try and do different food (to Noodle Canteen). That’s why we’re to move and open a new restaurant in Ballarat Central,” he said. 

This will be a change in service for Mr Gan, as Noodle Canteen is a take-away business. 

He said they would also put some Western dishes on the menu. 

The planning application lodged with the City of Ballarat says the restaurant will seat 50 people once open, and will also provide take-away meals. 

The planning specialist has also applied for a liquor licence, until 11pm every day.  

The application makes note of the “cluster” of licensed venues on that block of Mair Street between Armstrong Street and Lydiard Street, which is where many of the Ballarat CBD’s licensed venues are located. 

“Previous studies of the area have revealed 65 (licensed) premises within 500m of the site. Of these 65 venues, 30 venues close at 11pm or earlier; the majority of these are licensed restaurants. These venues have little impact on the precinct given they predominantly serve food and close at a modest hour and are therefore considered the lower end of the risk.” 

The document said the restaurant will employ an estimated six people. 

Mr Gan said they would organise workers closer to the opening date. 

The restaurant will be surrounded by history, as ​Guy Rehfisch said when they moved out last year. 

“My great grandfather has written on these walls and graced these buildings, that is something that will be missed but we can’t stay here forever, we have outgrown it with the changes to the business,” he told The Courier in June.