At least three new businesses have opened or are about to launch in the city, including a retail hardware store, a games shop and a new cafe.

Total Tools Warrnambool franchise director Kyall Wragge is putting final touches on a new outlet in East Warrnambool's Harvey Norman Complex which has been in planning since 2018.

The business went ahead with plans to open despite this year's disruptions, using a vacant shopfront and a site Godfreys occupied previously to create a new 1534-square metre store.

"We were't going to let the challenge of COVID hold us back." Mr Wragge said.

Former Melbourne resident Mr Wragge moved to Warrnambool to start the store because of the city's growing trade-based industries.

"Data shows there's a lot of qualified tradies around the area. It's a growing area, you can see it through the roads and the housing," he said.

"Even finding a house here is challenging. It was voted the most livable city in Australia; it's a beautiful place and it's growing."

Warrnambool has at least five more hardware stores ranging in sizes.

Mr Wragge said he pitched the new store at both DIY and trades markets to "complement" existing stores.

"You've got quite a big catchment of people in the surrounding areas," he said.

The store will employ 12 staff, full-time and casual, after opening in mid-November.

Two businesses have also launched on Liebig Street, cafe Middle Island Delights and a retailer selling board, card and war games.

CW Tabletop-Games owner Craig Walmsley said his store sold games and offered space to players to gather and compete, perhaps even hosting tournaments down the track.

"There's nothing like it in Warrnambool," he said.

"Hopefully it's a space where people feel they can come in and play the games and sit down. Somewhere they can socialise."

The Warrnambool resident of 20 years also works at a city supermarket and plans to staff the store as its sole worker.

He said popular games were Magic: The Gathering, Warrhammer and Dungeons and Dragons.

"I have never stopped just having the fun of putting together models and painting them and hanging around with mates doing it," Mr Walmsley said of playing the miniature-model games.

"I'd love to be able to have younger people come in and get into it. It stops them from sitting in front of a screen. I love my computer games as well but it's good to do something different."

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.