More than 100 hospitality jobs could be created from bars, restaurants and takeaway outlets opening in central Queenstown before the launch of the Winter Festival on June 25.
An estimated 55 staff would be required by Ballarat Trading Co, described as the resort's first gastropub.
The eatery would take the ground-floor space vacated by the National Bank, below Winnies Gourmet Pizza Bar, within the 147-year-old building on Queenstown Mall.
Winnies co-owner Mike Burgess was behind the venture, which would serve "pub food with flair" and aimed to appeal to those aged 25 and over.
"We'll be embracing the colour of old-world Queenstown with a theme of an 1850s pawnshop: a historic theme in a historic building."
Mr Burgess said the company would start advertising for full-time and part-time staff from mid-May.
A bar was expected to open on the ground floor of the Church St and Searle Lane building, which is mainly occupied by Nomads Queenstown Backpackers, before the start of Winter Festival.
Cook Brothers Bars, the company behind Dunedin's Captain Cook Tavern, would create 20 positions and bring "something different to the resort", co-owner Richard MacLeod said.
"People will have to wait and see if we've done a good job or not, and let people vote with their feet."
Cook Brothers has sublet to a gourmet sandwich, salad, smoothies and soup eatery on the ground floor Church St corner of the thoroughfare.
Johnny Barrs, named after a 19th-century Dunedin jailer, is a venture by Ramy Abu-Yousef, general manager and head chef of the Bathhouse restaurant for more than two years, and business partners Tom Hardes, a fellow Bathhouse chef, and Cynthia Friedemann.
Mr Abu-Yousef said Johnny Barrs was scheduled to open on June 1.
He estimated 10 to 14 staff would be hired.
Domino's Pizza continues to search for a franchisee to take the ground-floor lease within Westwood Group Holdings Ltd's Malaghan House, on Memorial St.
About 20 full-time and part-time staff would be required and advertising would begin six weeks from the opening.
Domino's Pizza New Zealand general manager Ryan Bohm, of Hamilton, said the company was qualifying three or four franchisee applicants for the first Domino's outlet in Queenstown and he hoped it would be open for business by June.
In other moves around the central business district, McCulloch and Partners chartered accountants and business advisers moved from its Camp St office of 23 years to the Church St side and level two of the Nomads block, above Pulse Fitness, on March 26.
Partner Donald Jackson said the firm had outgrown its previous premises and the move had gone smoothly.
Macalister Todd Phillips barristers and solicitors expects to move from offices on the third floor of O'Connells Pavilion to occupy the entire level three of the Church St building next month.
Partner Graeme Todd said the open floor plan would allow for expansion, including the employment of more solicitors.
