Its very difficult to try and write this post without sounding biased. Since february of 2010, Main Street Life has been my home, my inspiration, and one of the most important things to have existed in my life. I lived in the showspace and documented my life via the interweb on mainstreetlife.tv , a site I still continue to manage. I also started The Bioscope with one of my best friends Darryl Els, which is situated on the ground floor of the building.
I often go up onto the roof and stare out over the city, I often take a bicycle out and explore. I often just enjoy the fact that Im walking as opposed to always being stuck inside a car. Although I’ve been selling the dream of living in the city for months now, Im only really starting to see whats its done for me now, five months later.
I now know whats around the corner, I now know the order of streets in the city, and which way they go in terms of one-ways. I now know The Bioscope is NOT the only independent cinema, and that there are literally thousands of hidden gems that I manage to unearth on a daily basis. I also can now proudly announce that although I have to be realistic and remain aware, I am NOT afraid of the city.
Did I mention Main Street Life was a residential apartment block? with units that are being sold off and rented? at the time of writing this, units are still available, but im not sure how long that will be. There is a boutique hotel called 12 Decades on the top floor, as well as a fantastic roof space with a pool, bar , and boxing gym.
Its quite difficult to not view The Carlton Centre within the context of what it once was. This mall was undoubtedly the mall of Joburg. And if you step back and look at how well the city was actually layed out, you begin to see how all this possible. Its at the base of the tallest building in Africa, of which for a small fee can take you up to the viewing deck – every big city must have a skyscraper viewing deck!
Today, its a little bit of juicy secret. Its normal and clean, filled with all the normal shops, sans a couple of real gems like Levi Factory Stores, and countless shoe stores selling amazingly cheap awesomeness.
You then have the Smal Street Mall which is effectively an alley way of shops, that disects the city centre like a zigzagged crack on your windsheild. It passes through The Carlton Centre. And then surrounding it are all other mighty hey day buildings like the Carlton Hotel which has my parents speak of The Top of The Carlton as once being the fanciest spots this side of the mine dumps. Then there was The Carlton Skyrink which brought the kind of joy one can only get from ice skating in circles.
The Hotel and the Skyrink lie dormant. But in true Jobusy fashion, its just a matter of time before someone goes “hang on, this sky rink will be the sickest venue for a party!” Enter Red Bull’s Soundclash where Tumi and The Volume were on one side of the rink, and The Dirty Skirts on the other side, and there was a microphone hanging in the centre, measuring the decibels.
Illovo has really grown up in the last few years. Wolvesis the new kid on the block… or rather the new girl with pigtails on the swing in the park on the block. Filled with all manner of kitch art, toys and ceramic deer, the latest addition to the strip is a welcome breath of fresh candy-floss flavoured air. They don’t have a liquor licence (yet) so either bring your own or have some tea and a cupcake instead. The red velvet cake is the most sublime way to start your morning.
Wolves is also one of only two stockists in Joburg of must-have Australian fashion and design magazine Frankie.
4 Corlett Drive, Illovo. Parking right outside, or on the corner of North and Oxford (accessible from North Rd).
For those in the know, City Outfitters holds an almost legendary status. Its only place in the city you can get your hands on authentic vintage Converse and Vans. And by vintage, we’re referring to the ever-iconic ‘Made in the USA’ label. Seeing that the shoe-making industry was moving east in the ’70s, owner and local hero Mohammed Dajee bought up as much of the stock as he could.
Today, locals and celebrities travel from far and wide to the little store in what is now Jeppetown, although it’s quickly becoming part of the newly-established Maboneng Precinct.
The Bamboo Centre has been around so long it easy to forget what a Joburg gem it is. That was until a friend told me how she had taken her Cape Town visitor there to impress her – and it worked. So here goes:
Five more good reasons to hang out at Bamboo include:……
I honestly can’t remember the last CD I bought. To me, it comes down to only buying local acts and bands I’m a die-hard fan of. If I had to go out and buy a CD today, it would only ever be from this fine establishment. I say this for two fundamental reasons.
Firstly, because they are small and niche, ensuring they have a mad diverse selection, with no kak stashed inbetween. I hate big commercial CD stores, giving away an illusion of diversity, yet never seeming to have what you’re after…
And then secondly, because at the till, are pictures of the owner with famous people like ZZ Top.
There’s a great second-hand industry in and around Joburg. This review of The Hospice Shop will become the first of many. This is officially the mecca of thrift in that there are four different sections, some with books, some with more clothes, some with more ridiculously arbitrary junk.
I went in once looking for a table, and came out with a cupboard, a magazine holder, and a framed photograph of someone’s mother.
D.O.P.E store is the very reason a site like Jobusy exists. We’re not telling you what to do, or where all the cool places are. Often, we’re simply telling you, ‘you just need to know this exists!’ You need to know D.O.P.E store exists!
Just off Gandhi Square in the old part of the CBD, they sell all the right local and international brands from Zulu Boy to Puma, Love Jozi to Nike. In fact they are one of only 30 stockists in the world to stock the new Nike soccer SA range AND only one of two stockists worldwide to stock Love Jozi’s latest TjoTjoTjo tee. Now that’s impressive.
So instead of showing you some cool angle from inside the store, we thought it best, in true Jobusy stye, to present the kind of people that make this store tick. Andile Scotch Cele and his t-shirt and sneaker people are open for business. These might very well some of the coolest people in the city. And their style and events are enough to have shouting out ‘you might just be the dumbest f&%K if you believe Johannesburg centre city ain’t alive!’
Find them at 30 Loveday St, entrance on Fox St, nearby the Rand Club.
Situated right next door to The Radium Beer Hall, Bhanis Cycle is the answer to the current fixed-gear bike craze currently sweeping the world. These guys don’t even know what’s coming for them. I walked in, and promptly walked out having ordered myself a black balloon bike! They stock all manner of fancy mountain bikes as well. Coming in much cheaper than a Sportsman’s Warehouse, where everything smells like a new tennis shoe.
The idea is simple. In order to truly love something, you first have to understand it. Johannesburg is no different in this regard.
Connect with the real city through those who live and play here. The result? A catalogue of Johannesburg like no other.
