Cuddle up, pull your heater close, or sit closer to the fire and let us be your Melville escape. Welcome to Melville Untold.

In today’s newsletter,

• Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi Melville's Premier Culture Hub 🎻

• The Pet Winter Wear Competition's Adorable First Entries! 🧣

• Closure for De La Crème Management 🥐

Let’s go. 

— Aubrey Moloto, Kele Jackson

The Digest

Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi Melville's Premier Culture Hub 🎻

Melville's Hidden Culture Gem on Fourth Avenue

The cluster of establishments on Fourth Avenue, near Main Road, is by far one of Melville's most underexposed groups of businesses. In one of our first-ever issues of Melville Untold, we posed the question: "What Is Kribo Trading, And What The Hell Happened To Cool Runnings?" Cools? Well, the jury is still out on that one. But since then, we've become familiar with Kribo Trading Centre – and oh my, how impressive!

Kribo is home to a unique collection of some of Melville's highest-quality service-based businesses. These include a Pilates studio and gym, a chiropractor, a biokineticist, and an oral hygiene practice. The owners of the centre are also linked to a dental and orthodontic practice and a skin rejuvenation and aesthetics clinic nearby, and a chic, architect-designed motel across the road. But today we want to focus on its cultural hot spot: a canteen and a multi-faceted event venue called chiesa di PAZZO LUPi.

chiesa di PAZZO LUPi 

Directly translated from Italian, the name means "Church of the Crazy Wolves or the Church of the Crazy Lupi" and pays homage to the previous owner, Italo Lupini. chiesa was established pre-COVID when fate brought together an unlikely group of entrepreneurs. Italo Lupini, local dentist Gys de Necker, then IT Corner owners Mustapha Zaouini and Maurizio Santamicone, and Nicky Rofail (owner of motel Mi Pi CHi guesthouse) seized the opportunity to buy the initial brick-faced building now known as chiesa di PAZZO LUPi, within the Kribo Centre.

The common thread between this diverse group of entrepreneurs was Nicky. Italo Lupini, grappling with the loss of his then-business partner, approached her about purchasing 38 Fourth Avenue. Mustapha and Maurizio met Nicky in 2013. They had IT Corner for some time and were racing to upgrade its interiors in time for the famous Fête de la Musique festival. Nicky and Eleanor Koning worked on the restaurant's interiors and were part of the organising team for the festival. Mustapha later reached out to Nicky to stay at motel Mi Pi CHi. Nicky asked them to join in buying the building with them. He agreed, thus solidifying their relationship.

From French Patisserie and Shared Spaces Dreams

The original idea was to create a "French Pattisserie" for Gys' daughter, Marlizan, a talented pastry chef who just relocated back to Mzansi. Alongside the patisserie, an idea to establish a shared office space for entrepreneurs and creatives in Melville came about.

Before they could fully roll out the shared office concept, a social media NGO backed by Facebook and Google called Digify Africa moved in and became their tenant. Digify transformed the building into a vibrant office space and event venue for themselves. They stayed for a while, but then the pandemic arrived.

As part of the transformation, Dr Gys relocated his Pilates & Wellness Centre (which had been in Melville for 20 years at the time) to the centre. They officially named it Kribo Trading, a Multi-Dimensional Wellness Centre, offering various wellness services.

Pandemic Challenges and Jazz Salvation

They initially did well because they had wonderful tenants, but 2020 brought the centre's first challenges. Many tenants jumped ship, downsizing during that tumultuous period for businesses.

In 2021, during a period of uncertainty, Mirza Parker (of 2JazzSA, a local jazz promotion group) asked to host a jazz show there. The event was an instant hit, drawing an enthusiastic crowd and paving the way for a possible transition for the venue. This success encouraged the centre to host more live music events and to start operating under the banner of chiesa di PAZZO LUPi.

A Cultural Powerhouse Emerges

The events had a phenomenal impact, especially on the jazz scene. By 2023, they secured sponsorship from Concerts SA through the Norwegian Embassy, IKS Cultural Consulting, and SAMRO. This partnership pushed chiesa to take their ventures more seriously and elevate their events.

Since then, some of the country's top and international musicians have graced their stages. They haven't only been a music venue but have also hosted many types of events, establishing themselves as a cultural event space looking to become a hub for entrepreneurs and creatives.

They are particularly renowned for jazz music, having been nominated for "Best Jazz Venue" at the Mzansi Jazz Awards in 2024. Since then, many artists nominated for the Mzansi Jazz Awards have performed there.

Some notable jazz musicians and groups who have graced their stage include powerhouses such as Mandla Mlangeni, Tumi Mogoroshi, Marcus Wyatt, Justin Badenhorst, Kyle Shepard, Sisoke Xonti, Jonathan Crossley, Carlo Mombelli, Herbie Tsoaeli, Melville's very own Keenan Ahrends, and plenty more!

chiesa has also featured a variety of musical acts beyond jazz, including classical string quartets from Europe and South Africa. They've even had some pop and urban artists perform there. They plan to partner with BSharp Entertainment to bring opera nights to Melville.

More Than Music: The Canteen Experience

chiesa di PAZZO LUPi operates as a canteen, offering breakfast and lunch, and meals during shows. They highlight their piadina (a flatbread filled with various fillings), cooked and health breakfasts, and other light meal options. People can come anytime during their opening hours to grab a meal and the "best coffee in Melville".

Their menu seems very health-conscious; they offer sourdough toast and boiled eggs with their main cooked breakfast options. chiesa has some of the most competitive prices we've seen in Melville, with their big breakfast coming in at 110 bucks! Most of their meals range between R70 and R130 for their lunch meals like lasagna or a delectable Beef Burger.

Future Vision: Culture, Community, and Connection

chiesa di PAZZO LUPi holds a solid vision of its future. They're focusing on growth as a prominent cultural event space, a formal shared office environment, and an active canteen – all while aiming to revitalise and de-stigmatise Melville as a suburb.

They aim to expand their musical repertoire and introduce free public talks alongside their performances. These talks will be led by various professionals and will focus on cultural engagement, current issues, and wellness, promoting community interaction and learning. 

Their goal is to create an environment where cultural and intellectual engagement can thrive. For the canteen, the aims are to increase patronage and open up to the community on Saturdays. Especially on Dog and Rabbit (a car boot initiative by Michaela Whitcutt) days. The chiesa management believes in continuous improvement and hopes that in 15-20 years the business will still be a vibrant and thriving cultural hub.

The Melville Connection

Bringing it back to the Melville connection, they opened up here because the owners were all already invested in our suburb for many years. Dr Gys de Necker's dental practice and Pilates studio, Nicky's motel Mi Pi CHi, and Mustapha & Maurizio from the then IT Corner brought a solid Melville foundation to this awesome venture.

They often encounter the perception that "people are scared to come to Melville". So they explicitly state "In Melville" on their event posters to draw attention to the suburb and "introduce people to Melville in a different way". They want the venue and centre to serve the community first while also welcoming visitors from all over.

Why Melville Matters

We at Snaps love to find out why our interviewees love Melville and what their most memorable moment is. Nicky's most memorable moment, even though she feels it was such a long time ago, was purchasing her first home. She bought her first home ever here in our suburb and still lives in it to this day. Gys’s most memorable moment was the construction of his state-of-the-art dental facility. Mustapha and Maurizio still frequent IT Corner to this day. 

They all love Melville because it's a small community with neighbours close to each other, offering a sense of security. They love how down-to-earth Melvillians are and that there isn't the pressure to conform to specific appearances or behaviours, unlike some other residential areas.

Visit chiesa di PAZZO LUPi

You can support chiesa by following them on Facebook and Instagram, and Kribo Trading keeping up with their events. You can also drop in during the day to relax in the sun during winter or find leafy shade in summer while enjoying a light meal or designer drink from their concise yet imaginative menu.

Just pull up to the gate and it will open sesame, welcoming you in.

If you enjoyed today’s digest piece, why not buy us a coffee?

What’s Happenin’ 🤔

Finally, an end to mampara week! You can't possibly be cold and broke...Here's what you can do with this month's pay. Don't spend it all in one place!

Check out the events calendar for regular events - The Melville Pulse Events Calendar 

Melville Weather For The Week ❄️

A cold front’s approaching! 🌬

Wednesday 

18° 🌡️ 5°  | ☀️ |  🌧️ 0% | SSW 13 km/h 💨

Thursday  

18° 🌡️ 0° | 🌤️ | 🌧️ 1% | ENE 19 km/h 💨

Friday 

13° 🌡️ -1° | 🌤️ | 🌧️ 0% | ESE 11 km/h 💨

Saturday 

15° 🌡️ 1° | ☀️ |  🌧️ 0% | NE 9 km/h 💨

Sunday

17° 🌡️ 2° | ☀️ | 🌧️ 0% | N 7 km/h 💨

Monday 

17° 🌡️ 2° | ☀️ |  🌧️ 0% | N 7 km/h 💨

Tuesday 

18°🌡️ 3° | ☀️ |  🌧️ 0% | SWS 4 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events Lowdown 🎸

Been indoors too much and need to move that booty? Here's where you can get your freak on this week!

26/06 | Thursday | 7 pm | Coca Restaurant and Lounge | Smoke and Mirrors: A Forbidden Night of Dark Jazz ft. Whiskey, Shadows, Despair AND DJ Midnight Coda | Early bird R50 and R100

26/06 | Thursday | 6 pm | 78a Avenue 4th Avenue | Thursgays | R30

27/06 | Friday | 7 pm | chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | Tubatsi Moloi ft Sibusiso Nyirongo, Bongani Ncube, Neo Joshua and Candice Moleshe | R200

29/06 | Sunday | 12pm | Boho Buds | Sunday Joint: Jazziefied Sundowners ft. Journey of Discovery | Free entry between 12-3pm then R80

29/06 | Sunday | 7 pm | chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | KHNYSA AND THE LIGHT ft. Sisonke Papu, Lephoto Thapelo, Tshimo, Boitumelo Dibakoane | R180

For more updates as the week goes on, visit our instagram page @snapson7th or our new Melville Pulse event calendar

If our weather or comprehensive gig guide came in clutch, consider buying us a coffee. 

The Tail End 🐾

Pet Winter Wear Competition

And we're off! The Pet Winter Wear competition is underway! Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first entries. Meet the adorable contestants, looking cute, sexy, and dapper in their best winter wear!

How to Vote

Please vote by replying to this email or direct messaging us on Facebook or Instagram with the name of the contestant you think looks the best in their winter swag! Each entry will be given a number and a name, and all you have to do is say the name or number of the entry you choose, and we'll count the votes.

 We'll show all the competitors each week and those who get the most votes will win a voucher worth R1,500 from Ziggy's Pet Pamporium! The second prize will be a super cool hamper worth R750.

Without further ado, here are Melville's pets in their sexiest, cutest furry swag:

Reply to this email and vote for your favourite!

Want to enter? Take your mommy or daddy's phone while they're asleep, put on your hottest fit, then put your paw on the red circle on the screen while in selfie mode! Send the snap to newsletter.snapson7th.co.za.

Winter Pet Care Tips from Ziggy's

While we were at Ziggy's, Cobi blessed us with some tips to keep our furry community members happy during the upcoming cold snap!

Ideally, everyone should bring their pets inside during these cold times! If you're not, please make sure they're safe and have access to fresh food and water. Make a warm and comfortable space for them to settle in, away from the biting wind.

A cold front is coming, please make sure our animals don't get stuck in it!

Civil Matters 👷

Water Alert: Major Outage Coming to Melville

Heads Up, Melville!

We've got some important news that'll affect all of us in the coming weeks. A big water outage is heading our way, and we want to make sure everyone's prepared.

What's Happening?

Between 30 June and 21 July 2025, there's going to be massive system maintenance at the Eikenhof Water System. They won't be pumping any water for a full 6 hours, which means many areas will be affected, including our own Hursthill Commando system.

What to Expect

Here's the reality: it's going to take a few days for all systems to recover fully. They'll be switching systems back on systematically, so don't expect everything to be back to normal immediately after the 6-hour maintenance window.

How to Prepare

• Fill up containers, buckets, and bottles before the outage period

• Stock up on bottled water for drinking and cooking

• Plan your washing and cleaning around the outage dates

• Keep some water aside for your pets and garden essentials

In the meantime, start prepping now so you're not caught off guard.

Remember, we're all in this together, Melville. Let's help our neighbours who might need extra support during this time.

Market Watch 🎪 

Community Vibes at Both Markets

Nothing makes you feel part of a close-knit community like visiting the markets on a Saturday morning. We hit both markets this weekend and found that they both scratched that community itch in different ways.

The Melville Artisanal Market 

Even though The Melville Artisanal Market is outside, it had a warm, welcoming feeling. Customers and vendors there have such a family vibe. It's hard not to lose yourself connecting and learning about some of the amazing artisanal products on display. Not to mention some new vendors made it a full market weekend.

Photography Workshop at Melville Market

At the Melville Market, Paul Mills held the first (of many, we hope) photography workshops where people with DSLR cameras got to learn essential basics from an extremely experienced professional. 

He taught at a slow pace and we all followed easily. He took one-on-one questions and indulged every question with care and patience. Paul is really a brilliant teacher!

It was also amazing to meet other people from our community interested in photography and find out what they all do. After the lesson, we broke into little chats and connected deeply with some amazing people. We're definitely going to the next one! Thanks, Paul!

Extra Sprinkles 🧁

Closure for De La Crème

We're ending off on a bittersweet note today. We really felt the sadness of the community when the iconic De La Crème Bakery closed down. We were sad ourselves, especially after writing an article on them earlier this year. It was such a pleasure to finally meet Savva the owner. We've also grown close with some staff members over the years.

Why the Closure Happened

Savva says that it was a long time coming. They've been feeling a decline in day-trade customers on the strip for a couple of years now.

De La Crème has been losing some of its long-term customers steadily over time. To him, it's the general decline of the area, safety concerns, and people wanting more novel offerings.

The Struggle to Stay Afloat

He started finding it tougher and tougher to keep trading. He tried to keep up with the digital age, marketing relentlessly on socials and even trying fresh new things with the menu. It ultimately didn't work, and Savva found the business spending more than it made to the point where it became unmanageable. He also feels that the building's new owners have other ideas, and this was the final push for them to end this amazing 37-year run.

What's Next for the Brand

For the brand, it's a double whammy as the other branch closed last year.  He's now taking a breather before he starts assessing his options; either working for someone else or finding ways to keep the De La Crème brand alive. He says most of their employees have luckily found work elsewhere already.

We wish the best of luck to Savva and the De La Crème family. Once a Melvillain, always a Melvillain. All the best for your future endeavours. We hope to see the De La Crème brand alive and thriving again someday!

He sends a heartfelt thank you to all the long term customers who supported them over the years. Is that you? Send us a farewell message and we’ll make sure he reads it! It would also be lovely to post the community’s goodbye messages to De La Créme here and show them what they ment to us. 🤍

Thank you! 🙏

And that's the 39th of the Melville Untold newsletters. If you enjoyed your read, consider tipping us by buying us a coffee.

We're less than three months away from our first anniversary. Time flies! 

We want to throw a first birthday party with all the people we've covered as our honoured guests. It would be an amazing opportunity to meet our readers too, so why not connect the community in a fun mixer?

 Let us know if you think this is a great idea.

Support the Snaps On Seventh team by booking us for a photo or video shoot – let us revamp your digital presence!

'Til next Tuesday, Melville, 

Stay fiery, keep up the good fight, and stay fabulous!

Antío ✌️