What a weekend in the Ville! The streets really came alive, and we're happy to have been a part of it. Welcome to Melville Untold.

In this week's Melville Untold,

• Welcome To Melville The Green Fork Restaurant 🥬

• Creass Gets AI Backup 🤖

• The Happening Date Announced 📆

  Let’s go. 

— Aubrey Moloto, Kele Jackson

The Digest

Fork Yeah! Melville Welcomes Green Fork Restaurant To The Strip 🥬

The resurgence is now in full swing! A crucial component has been added as another restaurant opens on prime real estate. While not quite a heritage site like Die Pienk Kerk, it's arguably just as important; the corner of 3rd Avenue and 7th Street at the Melville Mansions. The pink flamingo's puzzle is finally complete! Welcome to Melville, The Green Fork restaurant – a new (ad)venture by Fourways residents, Abigail Nyirenda and Macco Mncune.

The Heart Behind the Fork

To understand the foundation of The Green Fork is to understand the deep-rooted motivations of its founders. This isn't just any opportunistic play in hospitality; it's a professional manifestation of a calling. This authenticity is the bedrock of the TGF brand, promising a level of commitment and resilience that just can't be made up!

At the heart of The Green Fork is the Zambian-born and Mzansi-raised Abigail – the culinary visionary whose love for cooking and service is the restaurant's driving force. Her journey didn't start in a professional kitchen, but in her own home. She was always hosting friends and family, and found her "happy place" in the act of making and sharing food. It wasn't just a hobby for her. Abby was constantly cooking, and as Marco fondly put it, this led to "expensive bills of electricity." She isn’t only passionate about the abstract art of cuisine, but also the tangible joy of serving people.

Complementing Abigail's creative talents is Marco, her husband, with pragmatic business acumen. Raised in Katlehong, with a background in sales, IT and telecoms, Marco recognised the commercial potential within his wife's passion. He gave Abby a “supportive nudge" to transform her talent from a fun household activity into a professional enterprise. He plays the role of enabler and strategist, providing the structural and operational support that lets Abby’s vision flourish.

The main motivation behind The Green Fork is refreshingly clear and direct. It's a passion-driven business, grounded in a desire to build something meaningful.

Why Melville? A Year in the Making

From this deeply personal starting point, the couple embarked on a deliberate process to find the perfect home for their vision, and that's where Melville comes in.

After viewing many potential places around the city, Marco and Abby chose their corner spot for its strategic advantages. Marco saw the busy 7th Street location as a key asset for footfall and visibility. After analysing the current Melville market, they saw a gap for what they're offering, saying "we wouldn't really be competing or stepping on someone else's toes." Abby recalled; "When we walked into this place, we just knew this was the one... we could see it!"

The Concept: More Than Just Another Eatery

With The Green Fork, the couple aim to create a "breakfast brunch vibe" – a destination designed to be a "chill, comfortable and peaceful" oasis. It's not a club or a late-night groove spot, although they do want the ambience to support a variety of experiences. Their vision is a versatile community hub for:

• Business meetings

• Casual dates

• A quiet place to read a book

• A post-run or post-cycle stop for a smoothie

They're targeting an underserved demographic within Melville. The idea is to attract local residents, "the grown-ups," and young professionals seeking a more relaxed yet sophisticated dining experience. They'll also cater to the active cycling and running communities, opening from as early as 7am. They want to carve out an identity that sets them apart from Melville's more student-centric establishments.

The Menu: Fresh, Flavourful, and Inclusive

As head chef, Abby's culinary philosophy is about fresh, healthy and flavourful food that "packs a punch" with "big flavours." The menu focuses on light meals for breakfast, brunch and lunch, featuring an array of bowls, burgers and salads.

A big differentiator is their commitment to creating "interesting meals for people that don't eat meat." The Green Fork moves beyond the lazy "green salad" that’s often offered to vegans in other restaurants. They provide genuinely thoughtful and appealing vegan options. Their signature offerings include "a long list of breakfasts" with a variety of benedicts. Customers will also be able to enjoy freshly squeezed juice, where you can pick your own fruit at the juice bar.

Building the Dream Team

For these first-time founders coming into a competitive market, success hinges on mitigating inexperience. Their blueprint achieves this by de-risking the two most critical operational pillars for them: the product and its delivery.

To mitigate operational risks, Marco and Abby have invested in proven specialists. Abby leads the kitchen as head chef and manages a team that includes two other chefs. The front of house will have a team of 4-6 waiters per shift as needed. They've brought in a Dario-trained mixologist to lead the bar staff and a "top-notch" barista known for high-quality coffee and latte art.

The Journey So Far

Marco feels their biggest challenge getting to this point was not having a point of reference as newcomers to the industry. There was natural anxiety about whether they were "doing enough."

A critical moment of validation came unexpectedly. The team recently hosted a private birthday party for over 30 people. The response was overwhelmingly positive, giving them a profound insight: "Actually, we're ready to open."

Looking Forward: From Survival to Legacy

Short term, they want to survive, break even and establish a sustainable, successful and profitable operation within the first year. Long term, they want to evolve into an "anchor in Melville" – the goal is to become a landmark destination that people instinctively recommend for excellent food, outstanding drinks and an inviting atmosphere.

Ultimately, Abigail and Marco's desired legacy is to create a "comfortable space" that fosters genuine community connection. This vision is supported by a core operational belief articulated by Marco: "People always come back for service." Exceptional service is a non-negotiable for them and serves as the primary driver for customer loyalty, repeat business and organic growth.

I Love Melville

Marco's most memorable Melville moment was actually a sad one – a "hectic" experience about 15 years ago when he was dumped by a girl at SIX Cocktails. Not the brightest memory, but it's the one that stands out most for him. What he loves about our hood, is the supportive community vibe. He appreciates how friendly everyone has been since they arrived, trying to offer a helping hand. He notes that everyone looks after each other, as long as you are respectful. This makes him want to contribute and give back to the Melville community.

Abby's most memorable moment was her cousin's birthday celebration about two years ago. Their group of friends started at Karaoke Kong and then went "club hopping" down the street. She remembers it as a "really good time," even though they were exhausted by the end of it! She loves the vibrancy and eclectic personality of Melli and thinks it's a beautiful space to be in.

The Green Fork opened on Monday, the 29th of September and will be trading from 7am til 9pm during the week, closing at 11pm-midnight on weekends.

If you’re thrilled to know about the Green Fork, consider giving us a tip. Buying us a coffee? Payshap id: 0605293425 (Standardbank)

What’s Happenin’ 🤔

After a super eventful weekend in the hood, here's what you can look forward to. Let's upgrade that social calendar!

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

Melville Weather For The Week 🌸

A chilly week in Ville! 🥶

Wednesday 

23° 🌡️ 0°  | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 1% | SSW 13 km/h 💨

Thursday  

27° 🌡️ 12° | ☀️ | 🌧️ 0% | ENE 7 km/h 💨

Friday 

24° 🌡️ 10° | 🌤️ | 🌧️ 2% | ESE 15 km/h 💨

Saturday 

22° 🌡️ 11° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 2% | NE 17 km/h 💨

Sunday

30° 🌡️ 15° | ☀️ | 🌧️ 0% | N 13 km/h 💨

Monday 

27° 🌡️ 15° | 🌥️ |  🌧️ 55% | N 9 km/h 💨

Tuesday 

21° 🌡️ 15° | ⛅️ |  🌧️ 40% | SWS 13 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events Lowdown 🎸

 Need tunes for your rain dance? Or just a good excuse to boogie?

03/10 | Friday | 7 pm | Ratz Bar | Out Of Order by Zondo Commission ft. Necklace, Drunk Wizards and DJ Keke | R80

04/10 | Saturday | 4 pm | Coca Restaurant and Lounge | Heat Refresh Saturday ft. Bongza, Thami, A new generation, Renzo, Roya, Big Bear x Sta Vins x Dee the drummer, Milano Musiq, Andyboi, Ash the bully, DJ Kyskzin and Ricky the drummer | Free

04/10 | Saturday | 4 pm | Great Dane | Saturdane Funk: Funcktone Birthday Celebration | R80

04/10 | Saturday | 7.30 pm | chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | Quintet ft. Francesca Biancoli, Nick Williams, Rodderick McKay, Ryan Truter and Marlon Witbooi | R180

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

Civil Matters 👷‍♀️

Spar Fun Run/Walk

It's that time of the year again, Spar is doing their annual Spar Women’s Challenge fun run on Sunday, 5th October.

Please be aware that certain roads will be closed from 8am as they pass through Melville.

• Rustenburg Road (between 9th Street and Sabie Avenue)

• Carlow Road (between Emmarentia and Rustenburg Road)

Plan your routes around it.

CREASS Gets AI Backup!

We know how resourceful our CREASS community services can be, but this time, they've turned it up a notch! Creass has integrated AI. That's right, Melville, Danny's team are officially working in the future!

Many calls and texts come from the community with frequently asked questions. Answering these repeatedly takes time away from physical work around the hood. They now have a very smart AI Chatbot that handles these FAQ-type questions and can help the community with basic council issues like:

• How to log a municipal issue

• How to escalate issues

• Information you may need on the matter at hand

• And much more as it learns from each interaction

To engage with Creass' new AI Chatbot, click the link below and start chatting! Or save the contact for later. Just try not to confuse it with your therapist.

Creass AI Chat Bot - https://wa.me/+27648812009

Koppies Check-In ⛰

AGM Success!

The Koppies have been buzzing with events recently! They had a big turnout at the AGM this weekend, with many nature enthusiasts in attendance praising Anthony Paton for his Birds of the Koppies talk. Sounds like a real tweet treat for attendees!

Kuns at the Koppies

The fun doesn't stop there, though. This coming weekend it's Kuns at the Koppies! They're calling all "artists, wannabe artists, photographers and other creative people" to join in for an afternoon of art in the tranquillity of the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve.

Bring your own supplies, clipboards, and a flask of tea and biscuits. There'll be a professional artist or two for guidance if needed. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just dabbling in stick figures, your inner Picasso is welcome.

• Cost: R100 per person

• Date: Saturday, 4th October

• Entry: Via the Kafue Road entrance through the boomed gates on Gambia Road

• Contact: 082 490 4675 for enquiries

The Tail End 🐾 

Pet Winter Wear Competition Prize Giving!

We linked up with the good people of Ziggy's Pet Pamporium to give our pet winter swag contestants their prizes!

Our runners-up Ripley & Hicks had a family commitment, but Bumpy showed up and showed out, dripping in swag and super excited to celebrate his win! Here’s a snap of the dog of the moment! Look out on our socials for a short video coming soon.

Cat of the Week

This week's entry is more like Cats of the Week...

This past Saturday, a homeless family found a mommy cat that had been abandoned in a bush near the river they live on. The family looked after the cat and its massive litter of six until they lost two kittens and realised they had to get proper help.

They then packed up their belongings (which included a boat!) and travelled some kilometres to Bounty Hunters Charity for Cats, where they handed the Cat family over to the owner, Gail.

This is such a touching story, and big ups to this amazing family for fighting so hard to keep the litter alive. Here are our cats of the week!

Art In Melville 🎨

Avalon Art Returns!

It's art overload again in the hood! It's been so long since we heard from our little home gallery on 3rd Avenue, Hildegard's Avalon Art.

This week, they return with another immersive experience: an exhibition combined with a pop-up store and a bead workshop. Hildegard is such a versatile artist and infuses her many skills and talents into her artwork and the events.

Just in time for summer, the pop-up store will be selling her gorgeous knitted crop tops and some handcrafted jewellery. Attendees can also make their own bracelets while enjoying an art exhibition featuring work from Hildegard and her mother Rae Wilmot. Because what goes better with art than a custom accessory (and possibly a new outfit)?

• Saturday and Sunday, 4th and 5th October

• All-day activity

• 80 3rd Avenue, Melville

• No bookings, no RSVP, just rock up and bring your enthusiasm!

Icing On The Cake 🧁 

#JoziWalks2025 Walking Tour

We're so happy to report that our Jozi My Jozi JoziWalks2025 was a resounding success! Everything went according to plan, no incidents, and our guest loved our neighbourhood so much!

Thank you to all our partnering businesses that accommodated us so wonderfully at each stop, and thank you to Melville for holding space for this return of tourism to our hood!

This event gave us hope that Melville CAN become an ideal destination again. We have so much to offer the world. Everyone felt safe throughout the walk, there was an air of excitement with loads of activities and events happening at every corner.

Thank you, Jozi My Jozi, thank you Johannesburg In Your Pocket and thank you Gauteng Tourism Authority. We're itching to do it again! Stay tuned for info on our next one; we're definitely having another immersive Melville experience tour before the year ends!

The Happening Festival’s New Date

The new date for the Happening Festival has been locked in! It will be on Saturday, the 28th of March 2026. Save the date, Melville!

They're currently reviewing the budget and will be sharing it with the community for the sake of transparency. This is truly a festival for the people, by the people of Melville. Spread the word and get ready to contribute your talents and offerings.

Thank you! 🙏

Thank you for reading this week's Melville Untold. Consider giving us a tip if you enjoyed it. Payshap id: 0605293425 (Standardbank)

Thank you for holding space for our tour so wonderfully on Saturday, Melville. The support was truly felt. Every post, every comment, every well-wish and share is deeply appreciated. Let's continue working together to make Melville an ideal destination again.

Do you do something that can benefit our neighbourhood? Let's collaborate, reach out!

Find something interesting in this newsletter? Forward the email to a friend who lives in Melville. 🤲

'Til next Wednesday, Melville.

Stay welcoming, stay wonderful and stay wild-hearted.

Hasta luego ✌️