Ladies and gentlemen, we've arrived at our 10th issue of Melville Untold! Step by step, inch by inch and brick by brick we march on and continue to build a publication that makes our people's lives easier, better and ready for a brilliant week ahead.

In today’s Melville Untold,

• Melville's Daytrade Champion

• New sections added

• Getting closer to the big clean-up!

Let’s go. 

— Aubrey Moloto, 

The Digest

Service Station Café - Melville's Daytrade Champion

As I walk in I’m greeted by smells of breakfast cooking, coffee brewing and books as I get deeper into the restaurant. Sounds of a bustling kitchen, soft murmurs from neatly spaced tables, with cars zooming by in the distance. We’re enclosed by glass walls. I notice that we’re surrounded by greenery, graced by a beautiful view of Melville Koppies East. Waiters in all black quietly tiptoed through the spacious dining area politely taking orders, almost as if consciously trying not to disturb the atmosphere. A variety of people, with different agendas are spaced out and locked deeply in different activities. A beautiful family cheerily enjoying their breakfast, a smartly dressed older lady transfixed by her Kindle, two professional men of different generations hashing out a deal, another older, very fashionable, straight out of “The Devil Wears Prada” like lady indulging in her morning coffee, deep in thought, and a very artsy-looking young man sat near the doorway of Love Books, paging through a book while he savours his espresso. Today we want to delve into the inner workings of a legendary Melville restaurant that celebrated its 25th year in business just about a week ago. Service Station Café.

Origin Story

Established in 1999 Service Station Café has thrived for over two decades, becoming a beloved breakfast spot in our community. Carmen van de Merwe, A chef and former interior designer, decided to leave her job, join forces with her parents and embark on the ambitious task of turning a passion into pay by starting a restaurant. She had spent time hanging out in Melville as a student before and had fond memories of the “high street” restaurant and retail vibe of the strip, so she chose Melville. Situated at the Bamboo Centre, the building has a long history. It was really a service station once upon a time, a Bamboo cane shop and eventually became the Service Station Café we know and love today. Its longevity is a direct result of the ability to adapt and cater to the evolving needs of our community. While the nightlife scene has become a major characteristic of Melville, with many people believing that even affects day trade, The Bamboo Centre remains a vibrant hub for daytime activity. With its mix of independent shops and artisans, that back part of Melville has created its own unique type of Melville experience. They have made a kind of subculture within the neighbourhood. Carmen made sure to let me know that her parents were an integral part of the Restaurant for many years. Her mother sadly passed away along the journey 14 years ago. Her father has since retired and currently lives in Durban. They are both still fondly remembered by their customers.

The Food

Carmen’s culinary experience shines through in the café’s emphasis on fresh, homemade food. The menu is filled with items they make from scratch like many of their cakes and sauces with a deep focus on using the freshest seasonal ingredients. Customer favourites are hands-down - their Harvest Table (a buffet of seasonal foods) the Eggs Benedict with their highly-rated Hollandaise sauce and their scrambled eggs, which Carmen proudly claims is the “best in town”! Made with a splash of cream, a simple touch that elevates a traditional dish. Carmen ensures that the restaurant keeps within its values of only using high-quality ingredients, even when the rising food costs eat away at their profit margins. She sources from local suppliers, always looking for the best, freshest and most wholesome goods. Their fruit comes from a supplier in Parkview, flour from Champagne Valley in the Midlands, their chicken and eggs are free range, they get meat from a small butchery in Oaklands, nuts and grains from a supplier in Emmarentia and they even use home-grown herbs from her garden! This diligence in sourcing proves their commitment to food quality. The Harvest Table changes with the seasons keeping things fresh and exciting for regulars and allowing for flexibility. Their quiches are also a major favourite with many regulars in the community consistently ordering them for birthdays and events over the years.  Lots of praise must also go to their kitchen chefs who produce amazing meals for the restaurant and their catering events.

Community impact and presence

Service Station Café is not just a business in Melville, it’s woven into the community’s fabric and impacts our social and economic landscape. The café is more than just a place to grab a meal, it’s a place where connections are fostered. Regular customers become like family with the staff knowing their usual coffee orders and breakfast choices. They’ve seen kids grow into adults providing cakes and quiches for every birthday, to the point where Carmen joked that one of her customers had recently told her that her daughter has outgrown birthday parties. So she won’t be coming for cakes the way they did when she was a child anymore! This sense of familiarity and personalised service creates a welcoming atmosphere, where people feel known and appreciated. The Service Station Café's commitment to the community goes beyond its doors and food. Carmen emphasises the importance of restaurants and suppliers in the community working together, promoting a collaborative ecosystem. They’ve worked closely with Danny to contribute to clean-ups and upkeep initiatives over the years. She even mentioned the upcoming community clean-up project on the 23rd of November (next week Saturday). They also look to champion daytime trade in Melville, the restaurant has become a vital part of our day trade economy. Carmen sees the Café as a vehicle for giving back to the community, particularly through employment. They’ve built a dedicated team some of whom have been with them for many years. Like Clifford, a waiter who got his PhD while working there and Elsie Kortjaas, the restaurant's manager who does a terrific job running the front of the house. They work tirelessly to meet the community’s needs. Service Station caters to a diverse clientele and offers several options, from their popular Harvest Table to a-la-carte dishes serving different tastes and budgets. Their take-out and delivery services have also become a huge convenience to the community, letting people enjoy their offerings from the comfort of their homes. After going through many review sites we found that the restaurant consistently receives positive reviews from its customers with many of them raving about “fantastic food” “excellent service”, “great coffee” and more. There are a handful of negative reviews but the overwhelming majority are positive. They hold a strong rating on various platforms like Trip Advisor, Google, and Foursquare with most customers praising the Harvest Table, breakfast options and the overall experience. This positive reputation attracts locals and tourists enhancing the cafe’s visibility and contributing to Melville’s appeal as a dining destination.

Challenges Behind The Scenes

Let’s look into the café’s inner workings and the challenges that Service Station has had to overcome. They’ve had to ride out different periods of Melville’s constant transformations over the years having many downturns. They’ve dealt with rising food costs and faced COVID-19 and Mzansi’s energy crisis too. Carmen’s proactive approach was crucial in overcoming these issues quick and effectively. During the pandemic, she took out a loan from the Oppenheimer fund and launched a crowdfunding campaign to support her staff and to navigate the tumultuous situation straight away. She then implemented takeaway, delivery services and focused on building the gift shop and meal prep side of her operation. To address the power cuts she promptly invested in a generator. 

Vision For The Future

Shaped by her observations and experiences, Carmen acknowledges the uncertainties for the future, especially considering South Africa’s challenging economic climate and recurring issues like load-shedding. We asked if she could see the café hitting the 50-year milestone and she responded with “ I don’t know, I don’t know we’ll have to see”. She recognises the need to keep adapting to the ever-changing circumstances, but despite these uncertainties, Carmen emphasises the importance of perseverance. She states “It’s trying to keep going and just carry on”. Carmen wants Service Station to remain a cherished establishment in Melville. She values that the cafe is an “iconic corner” and acknowledges her customers' sentiments. She hopes to continue to foster the sense of community and connection that the café provides. Carmen loves its location within the Bamboo Centre and appreciates its unique energy and daytime trade. She praised the “amazing people’ who have spaces in there like the Jewellers upstairs and Kate next door at Love Books who they have a close and collaborative relationship with. She wants to continue being a part of that vibrant community of creators and retailers. Carmen also recognises that Melville is going through a change. She notes that many of her customers have moved away and says the area isn’t as busy as it once was. She sees a positive trend of people moving back and young families buying into the neighbourhood. This evolving landscape presents her with both challenges and opportunities.

I Love Melville

We tied the interview up like always, by asking her what she loves about our hood and her most memorable moment here. Her most memorable moments came back in her student days. She fondly remembers when the area had a “proper high street” atmosphere with a thriving restaurant and retail culture during the day. This period stands out to her as Melville had a distinct daytime energy and a bustling shopping scene. What she loves about Melville is its unique character, its diverse mix of people and its connection to a green space in the Melville Koppies. She finds Melville people “so much more interesting” compared to other areas like Sandton. Carmen believes that we have more character about us, and that contributes to the distinct energy she enjoys!

If you enjoyed today’s in-depth read about Service Station consider giving us a tip. You can support us by using Payshap - ShapID: +27-605293425

What’s Happenin’ 🤔

This week in Melville...scratch that! Every week in Melville is filled with so many fun things for kids (thank you Bambanani), and awesome events that can help adults disconnect from work and unwind from the hectic week! Here's our picks for the week.

Melville Weather For The Week ☔️ 

This week's weather is sadder than 7th Street on Mampara week! But after the Limpopish heatwave, all we can say is - Hallelujah!

Tuesday

21° 🌡️ 14°  | ⛅️ |  🌧️ 62% | NNW 13km/h 💨

Wednesday 

26° 🌡️ 12°  | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 3% | NW 9 km/h 💨

Thursday  

23° 🌡️ 12° | ⛅️ | 🌧️ 25% | NE 11 km/h 💨

Friday 

23° 🌡️ 15° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 25% | N 13 km/h 💨

Saturday 

25° 🌡️ 17° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 40% | WNW 7 km/h 💨

Sunday

30° 🌡️ 18° |  ⛅️ |  🌧️ 25% | N 4 km/h 💨

Monday 

30° 🌡️ 14° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 2% | NNW 9 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events Lowdown 🎸

Chiesa and Smoking Kills always come in clutch with amazing live music every weekend. SIX also has some of the country's best Jazz musicians (who sometimes headline at Chiesa) jamming out on Wednesdays. We have also been sleeping on our local legend Eric Miyeni and Richard Jones' Tuesday Jam sessions at Xai-Xai, well, here's a comprehensive list.

12/11 Tuesdays | 7pm - 10pm | Xai Xai Lounge | Eric Miyeni & Richard Jones playing live music | Free entry

12/11 Tuesdays | 7pm - 10pm | Coca Lounge | Artist open showcase/performance | Free entry

13/11 Wednesday | SIX Cocktails Bar | Live Jazz Sessions - Marcus Wyatt, Yonela Mnana, Amaeshi Ikechi, Sphelelo Mazibuko | 8 pm til late | Free entrance 

13/11 Wednesdays | Blanco On 7th | Culture On 7th - Slam Poetry, Live Music, Comedy | Free entrance 

14/11 Thursdays | 7pm - 10pm | Coca Lounge | Open Mic - Plug in, play, sing and rap | Free entry

14/11 Thursday | 7 pm - 11 pm | Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | Siphiwe Shiburi - Jazz Drummer Solo Event | Tickets from R200

16/11 Sunday | 5pm til late | White Campus Square | Saturday Night Live - Live Music | Every Saturday | Free entry, no demands

17/11 Sunday | 1 pm - 4 pm | Karaoke Kong | Folk Fest - Lakesides & Lanterns Indie-folk performances | Tickets R50 |

17/11 Sunday| 4pm | Jo’anna Meltbar | Sola Vida Drum & Bass | 1/2 price cocktails | Free entry all day

17/11 Sunday| 8pm - 10pm | Coca Lounge | Vynil Sundaze - DJ Mo, DJ Peppe, Dj Ferose, JusDane & DJ Ashwin | Every Sunday

18/11 Monday | Blanco On 7th | Mogodu Lifestyle Monday | Reservations 0662082548

If this comprehensive weather and gig guide helped you, consider buying us a coffee.
You can tip us using Payshap - ShapID: +27-605293425

For more updates as the week goes on, visit our instagram page @snapson7th

Melville Koppies Check-in ⛰️

We've added a new section to the newsletter, Melville Koppies Check-in to keep you in the loop with activities, news and changes at the Koppies, after last week's piece we came to realise that our urban oasis is too big, too rich, too unique and too important to be overlooked. It has a shout at being the biggest gem in our hood!

Firstly I'd like to announce that I, Aubrey Moloto have decided to volunteer and become the latest addition to the Melville Koppies guides and I hope to one day become a Friend. Come support me on Sunday mornings and take a hike with me as your guide! The Koppies played a massive role in my childhood, I believe that every member of society should have an activity in the community they take part in and most importantly I want to play an active role in the Global South's Green Transition. I'm passionate bout climate change and I believe doing my bit for the Melville Koppies is a brilliant start for me to find ways to be in the fight against it.

Here's the first update on MK. Firstly Kate Ballenden discovered something mind-blowing! She found a Stone Tool, a quartzite hand axe right on the Koppies dating back to the Paleolithic period! That's anything from 100,000 to 1,000,000 years ago. A testament to the rich history we have right in our neighbourhood!

This past Sunday we linked up with Rabbie Wrote, the poet who holds the every-second-week poetry sessions on the Koppies and found that has some major plans to enhance that offering. We don't want to be a spoiler but it sounds like it's going to be quite an experience!

Til then this week Koppies Central activities are the usual Sunday morning hikes between 8:30 am and 11:30, meditations and bird watching/photography. Don't miss out on a chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle and tap into this mental refuge.

The guided walks happen every last Sunday of the month, starting from Marks Park at 8:30am. (R90 for adults, R50 for under 18s - call 079 532 0083 for details

Civil Matters 👷‍♀️

Community Cleanup Update:

As the community prepares for the big clean up - we're here with the updates, straight from Danny, the head honcho leading the charge himself!

Three focus areas confirmed:

• Main Road

• 4th Avenue

• 7th Street

Main Road Tasks:

• Litter cleaning and municipal bin emptying

• Safe disposal of infectious waste (including discarded needles)

• Paving repairs (outside old Roxy and Romeo's buildings)

4th Avenue Tasks:

• Sidewalk repairs

• Road marking refresh

• Cleanup outside 50 4th Ave (vacant property)

• Cleanup at 4th Ave corner of 5th Street

7th Street Tasks:

• Litter cleaning

• Sidewalk maintenance

Sponsorship Status:

✓ Skip container (R1500) - Sponsored by a private resident

✓ Paint (R1400) - Sponsored by a private resident

✓ Asphalt - Sponsored by MSI

Cats eyes (R1800) - Tentative sponsor, confirmation pending

Support Team:

• First Aid: Mays Pharmacy nurse on-site

• Heavy Lifting: Beagle Watch environmental team and CREASS community services

• Security: Beagle Watch strike force

• Refreshments: Picobella (food), Smoking Kills and Coca (drinks)

Contact Danny at 072 457 3285 for any sponsorship queries.

Baalbek Catches Fire

In some not-so-lekker news, Baalbek seems to have completely burnt down to the ground. A popular hangout for young professionals. Amapiano Lifestyle and black youth culture-heavy clubs have been catching a lot of flack from the Melville community. Baalbek is one such spot that we never heard anyone ever have issues with. They operated very respectfully and were considerate of their neighbours and residents. Baalbek enjoyed a few years of vibrancy, packed evenings and a decent reputation. We want to express our sadness to the owners and staff whose lives will be affected by this event. We hope to see them bounce back stronger and continue to inspire other black youth culture-heavy spaces to live and thrive without antagonising themselves and try to build businesses that not only serve themselves but serve the Melville community as well.

Markets Watch 🎪

We're also adding a section to keep you in the loop with our local markets. Starting with the Melville Market at the Kruis church - their vendor lineup keeps rotating!

Lizz Meiring is back with her irresistible sugar-free treats from Miami.

Our community's own Dela Creme is joining the party as their official bread vendor (time to get that sourdough fix!).

Want to get crafty? Cherry Art is running some amazing art classes that'll bring out your inner Picasso!

Mel is back with her build-your-own bracelet kits (perfect for keeping those creative juices flowing).

And for our furry friends - there are some some new vendors bringing pet treats and accessories that'll have tails wagging!

Got something unique to sell? Contact Ernest at 0844777137

Extra Sprinkles  ✨

Sweet Little Stories From Our Streets

New Kid on the Block! 

A new shop has arrived at 27 Boxes, Let's welcome Kismet Eats and Treats. They do a killer Biriyani with apparently ginormous portions and a variety of food and snacks with killer deals like their Tuesday

- R40 for Boerie rolls

- R35 for 6 x Samoosas

- R50 for 6 x cupcakes

So next time you're at the Boxes show Kismet some love and welcome them with a purchase!

Our Master Chef needs our help!

Last week we had a very cute story in this section about a very young potential master chef from our area making it into the Master Chef Jr. competition through his school. Well, now he needs our help! His mother asks the community to please support her business so she can purchase the correct (halaal) ingredients for him to compete. She sells various packs of organic bath salts, which start from R45 per 500 grams and will work splendidly as a Christmas gift for a self-caring loved one. If you don't want the salts and think you can help in any other way please contact Charney Van Aardt Giovanelli on Facebook or directly at 0658239196

Thank you! 🙏

As we achieve the 10th publication mark, I want to briefly reflect on a great success for us. In less than three months we managed to amass 221 subscribers, an over 65% open rate, 3.7% click rate, over 58 referrals many compliments from the community and businesses inviting us to do reviews and articles. Personally, all I can say is thank you, baie dankie, and rea leboga!

This journey of starting and building Melville Untold has been far from easy but every word of support compliment and encouragement has dragged us to this point. We aint nowhere near as effective, timely or engaging as we HAVE to be but we get closer each week. Sometimes a baby step and other times strides. El continua!

'Til next Tuesday Melville

Keep exploring, keep connected and keep those taste buds tingling.

Adios✌️