One of Ballarat’s most iconic food outlets is up for grabs, with its owner of the last 12 years set to sell up shop.
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The Ballarat Hamburger cart, most commonly found in the Little Bridge Street car park, is on sale through Ballarat Real Estate.
Having owned the business for the past 12 years and worked inside it for nine of those, Merv White has come to the decision to sell the famous cart.
“When we bought the cart, we transformed it into what it is today,” he said.
“I’ve definitely got some mixed feelings about selling, but I think now is the right time.”
Mr White began renting out the business three years ago when he moved from Ballarat to the Gold Coast in search of love.
“I’ve been a bachelor all my life but now I’ve met an amazing girl here in the Gold Coast,” he said.
“We’re very happy up here and this is where my life is now.
“I’ll always be Ballarat born-and-bred but I’m a bit more used to the warmer climate now,” laughed Mr White.
Mr White reminisced on the interesting collection of people he would meet over his nine years at the helm of the cart.
“That was the best part, the people you got to meet,” he said.
“The people who would come through late at night were always characters, but that was that, they’d come by for a few minutes and then they’d be on their way.”
Since his move north, the business has been run by Sharyn and David Sonneman, who are leaving the business for retirement in May.
“It has been a great experience for us,” they told The Courier.
“It will be a little sad to finish but we have other adventures on the horizon as Merv does also.”
Looking forward, Mr White is hopeful whoever purchases the business keeps its 103-year-old tradition alive.
“I absolutely want it to continue as the Ballarat Burger Cart. It’s a Ballarat institution that has been enjoyed by families for generations. I hope it lives on.”