Timur Salehi has worked at Afghan Gallery since it opened in 1981. He had no plans to leave the restaurant. But on Thursday May 1, the Brunswick Street building that houses the restaurant was sold, and the business’s lease – which runs out at the end of June – has not been renewed.

“What happened with this new owner, the real estate guy didn’t give me the option to talk with them," he tells Broadsheet. “They don’t want me to talk with them – didn’t give me the phone number … we were told, ‘at the end of June you have to get out’.”

Afghan Gallery is one of Australia’s first Afghan restaurants. It was founded as a gallery by Timur’s brother Aziz Salehi before their sister Dr Nouria Salehi – who is still involved in the business – converted it into a restaurant in 1983. The restaurant was her way of providing employment and community to newly arrived Afghans in Melbourne, many of whom were refugees fleeing the Soviet-Afghan war.

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Timur estimates that regulars make up 80 per cent of the restaurant’s diners. “I told one of my customers we’re leaving, she was crying.”

He recognises it’s an end of an era – not just for the neighbourhood, but for himself as well. “I’ve spent most of my time there, and now we have to get out. It’s not easy,” he says. The team will retain the Afghan Gallery name and may relocate the business or move to a catering model.

Afghan Gallery is expected to close at the end of June.