Gilda Swanepoel, co-owner of Monchhichi café and live entertainment bar, is one of a new wave of entrepreneurs that are moving back into downtown Joburg as the City steps up its inner city regeneration drive. Rudo Mungoshi reports.
Gilda SwanepoelGilda Swanepoel: ‘I was born and raised here, and I just love the city’. (Click on photo for larger version)As the City of Joburg, through the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) and other entities, steps up the rejuvenation of the inner city, a new wave of entrepreneurs is moving back into the area.
Gilda Swanepoel, co-owner of the recently opened Monchhichi café and live entertainment bar in Ferreirasdorp, is among a growing number of business people who have been drawn by revamped infrastructure, improved public transport and falling crime levels across the CBD.
Monchhichi is located at 23 Fox Street, next to Chancellor House, the historic building where Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo had their law offices in the 1950s. It’s not hard to find: Chancellor House is across the road from the Magistrate’s Courts, and between the two buildings stands an eye-catching, five-metre tall statue of Mandela in shadow boxing pose.
The statue was commissioned by the JDA, which also oversaw the restoration of Chancellor House.
Sunny Braai Day Sunday at MonchhichiSunny Braai Day Sunday in the Monchhichi parking lot, with the Magistrate’s Courts across the road. (Photo by Monchhichi – click on photo for larger version)And that’s not the end of the JDA’s revitalising influence in Monchhichi’s new neighbourhood, which is served by two Rea Vaya BRT stations, boasts a hugely improved “streetscape” environment for pedestrians, and sits within the Westgate Station precinct and next door to the Newtown precinct – both sites of intensive ongoing development by the JDA as well as a number of private investors.
‘I REALLY SEE POTENTIAL HERE’
Swanepoel says she enjoys every minute of running her business in its new home. “I am a firm believer in the inner city and really see potential here. I was born and raised here, and I just love the city.”
Energetic and adventure loving, Swanepoel says the developments in the area encouraged her to make the move from Melville, where residents were unsettled by the noise generated by a live entertainment venue.
Monchhichi, next door to the fully restored Chancellor HouseMonchhichi, next door to the fully restored Chancellor House – flashback 60 years, and Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo would be popping in for lunch! (Click on photo for larger version)Looking for a new location, she consulted a colleague who showed her the derelict building next to Chancellor house.
“We came down and looked at the building, it was just four walls standing and very run-down. The parking lot was filled with gravel, but I saw a lot of potential and decided to take it on.”
She moved on site in August 2014, and opened Monchhichi in March this year after restoring the property.
She feels proud to be located next to one of the city’s historic buildings, saying of the tourists that regularly visit Chancellor House: “Their presence makes the area much nicer and welcoming and is good advertising for Johannesburg.”
‘ONCE PEOPLE COME, THEY KEEP COMING BACK’
Weekday post-lunch hour at MonchhichiWeekday post-lunch hour at Monchhichi. (Click on photo for larger version)Monchhichi also draws lawyers and prosecutors who step in for a quick bite before dashing back to the court during the lunch hour.
She says that although many Joburgers still perceive the inner city as unwelcoming and dangerous, “I have noticed that once they come here they fall in love with the place and come back … It is challenging but worth the risk, we want the people to come back to the city.”
Swanepoel believes her own investment will play a part in turning the area around. “Having more business in the area will help attract foot traffic.”
Her plan at the moment is to concentrate on becoming one of the most popular live music venues in the city and to organise more events. In June, Monchhichi hosted Johnny Cradle, Moonchild and Nakare Toure, and the month before that kicked off its Sunny Braai Day Sundays in the adjacent parking lot.
Interested? Check out Monchhichi’s Facebook page.