What an exciting year we have ahead of us! The Melville Art Mile kicks off next week, followed by The Happening in March. What a time to be in our hood!

In this week’s newsletter:

1. A Look Ahead: The 2026 Forecast 🌎

2. The Launch: Official Melville Art Mile Guide 🗺

3. New Opening: Good Omens lights up 7th Street 🎸

— Aubrey Moloto, Kele Jackson

The Digest

The 2026 Forecast

After a hectic start to the year, we’re officially back up to speed and covering the hood weekly. We hope you’ve all shaken off that 2025 babalaas and are taking 2026 by the horns! We trust our December guide held you over the holidays, but now it’s time to look at what to expect from Melville in 2026.

We’ve locked in with all the major Melville stakeholders—including the Melville Residents Association (MRA), Melville Business Association (MBA), the Melville Security Initiative (MSI), and the creatives—to get the scoop.

The State of the Ville

The general feeling in the air is that this is a massive year for the Ville. Despite a few closures last year, we saw fantastic new shops, galleries, and restaurants open their doors: the iconic Die Pienk Kerk, The Green Fork, Sorella Indulgence, Sánguché, DGI@27Boxes, Sbhiva, IKO, and Great Dane. (If you missed any, check our "Business Bites" back catalogue).

Another highlight was the team behind the legendary Kitcheners Braamfontein taking over RATZ. After a horrible year where the bar seemed to lose its identity, the new management is slowly bringing the vibe back.

Over at 27 Boxes, the Joburg Artist Market is packed. The ground floor crates are fully occupied—save for the old Countess—and the middle floor is looking good as well. Anaz Mia has the scoop on major plans for the rooftop, so watch this space.

Safety & The Streets

We ended the year in spectacular fashion with the Melville Art Mile bringing first Thursdays culture to our little slice of Jozi. The cherry on top? The MSI released crime stats that have decreased drastically.

Let’s be clear: the negative narrative is dead. Based on hard facts and numbers, Melville is as safe as any place in the North—if not safer than some right now.

With 2025 as a solid platform, 2026 shows immense promise. The Happening is locked in for 28 March, the 7th Street upgrades are weeks away from completion, and the Melville Art Mile kicks off its 2026 season next week.

Note: The MRA is holding its first executive meeting on Tuesday, 3 February. Check back next week for their specific 2026 plans in our “Civil Matters” section.

Here is what Melville’s stakeholders have in store for us:

Melville Business Association (MBA)

The MBA’s outlook for 2026 is "cautiously bullish," characterised by economic growth and the revitalisation of Melville’s unique cultural identity.

• Mood & Growth: Business owners are reportedly energetic. Despite challenging trading conditions, there is a strong determination to grow through local support. The MBA is confident that collaboration between the MRA, MSI, and CREASS will stimulate the local economy.

• New Openings: We’re seeing a shift toward specialist, experience-driven spaces like Sànguche, De Baba Eatery, The Green Fork and Artüro Tequila. There is also high anticipation for Good Omens, a new spot opening across from Xai-Xai (filling the gap left by Hell’s Kitchen), with several other "foodie places" in the pipeline.

• Infrastructure: A major priority is the 7th Street Upliftment Project. Funded by the MBA and MRA and executed by CREASS, this aims to make the business node more welcoming well before The Happening in March.

CREASS Community Services

With a goal of "systematic area rejuvenation," Creass is awaiting budget approvals from the "Three-Body System" (MRA, MBA & MSI) to get stuck in.

• The Plan: The primary goal is a systematic overhaul of the area, street by street, based on a comprehensive audit currently underway.

• Contingencies: If the full overhaul budget isn't approved, operations will shift to a "reactive maintenance model," tackling specific sites as issues arise.

• Immediate Focus: Their priority is completing the 7th Street Upliftment Project by 28 March.

Melville Security Initiative (MSI)

After a statistically excellent year for safety, the MSI has positive news about the Safe Streets Project.

Back in 2019, the MSI submitted an ambitious project to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to boom-off roads encompassing 1,300 houses on the east side of Main Road. It has been a slow and tedious process, moving at a snail's pace from municipal desk to municipal desk.

Finally, patience has paid off. At the end of last year, the MSI got "provisional approval"—a significant landmark. In the coming months, the project will move into a public objection period. The MSI plans to release a comprehensive update soon and will call for volunteers to help refine the aesthetics and operational models.

The Happening

Organiser Cian McClelland describes the outlook for 2026 as one of "high excitement." After being postponed from October 2025 due to funding issues, the festival is back for 28 March 2026.

• Turnaround: Support from local businesses has been amazing. The team has raised the necessary funds to make the festival bigger and better than before.

• The Vibe: Expect a diverse programme featuring poetry, live music, jugglers, buskers, market stalls, and "funky art cars" from AfrikaBurn.

• Participation: Cian emphasises that this non-profit venture relies on the community. The goal is to get locals to "come dressed up, participate, and play."

Snaps On Seventh

We covered our detailed plans in the last newsletter of 2025, so I’ll be brief: The seeds have been planted, and now it’s time to graft like there’s no tomorrow.

Beyond our usual social media and newsletters, our focus is the Melville Art Mile and the Melville Pocket Companion brochure. We view everyday with our socials, every Wednesday with our newsletter and every First Thursday as a chance to cement Melville as the ideal place to live, visit, and work.

Our 2026 Goals:

• The Brochure: We are entering the second phase of our curated Melville experience brochure, adding a guest house directory and interactive guided tours. Next up? Gamifying the experience with geocaching to make exploring the Ville even more engaging.

• Team Growth: We are looking to bring on a talented video and picture editor to up our game this year.

• Grinding: It’s about eking out marginal improvements, one newsletter at a time. We're not doing too much talking. Action, action, action!

That’s it for now. We’ll pick up on the MRA and JAM specifics in next week’s issue. The energy is electric, everyone is putting in good graft, and we are making strides toward a regenerated, multicultural Melville we can all be proud of.

Get in touch with the stakeholders:

• Melville Business Association: [email protected]

• Melville Residents Association: [email protected]

• CREASS Community Services: [email protected] / 064 881 2009 (WhatsApp)

• The Happening: 082 429 4842 (Melissa)

• Joburg Artist Market (27 Boxes): 081 719 8238 (Nkululeko)

• Snaps On Seventh: [email protected] / 081 826 2904 (WhatsApp)

If you enjoyed this week’s sweet digest, consider buying us a coffee

What’s Happenin’ 🤔

2026 is gaining steam, you can always tell by the gig guide. Can you feel it? Yebo!

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

Melville Weather For The Week ☔️

Thursday  

28° 🌡️ 10° | ⛈️ | 🌧️ 87% | NNW 9 km/h 💨

Friday 

27° 🌡️ 16° | ⛅ | 🌧️ 55% | W 11 km/h 💨

Saturday 

28° 🌡️ 15° | ⛅ |  🌧️ 55% | WNW 7 km/h 💨

Sunday

25° 🌡️ 15° | 🌤️ | 🌧️ 63% | NE 7 km/h 💨

Monday 

28° 🌡️ 15° | ☀️ |  🌧️ 55% | WNW 7 km/h 💨

Tuesday 

26° 🌡️ 16° | ☀️ |  🌧️ 7% | NNW 4 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events Lowdown 🎸

 There’s a new live music venue in town. Check the gig guide for your local grooves. Woza February!

29/01 | Thursday | 6 pm | chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | Jazz Night with Lex Futshane - Bromance | R200

29/01 | Thursday | 7 pm | Coca Restaurant and Lounge | Smooth Jazz Night ft. Dafung | Entry R60 - R70

30/01 | Friday | 6 pm | Good Omens | New Noise ft. Necklace, Twenty One Children and L.O.C | R100

31/01 | Saturday | 9 pm | Good Omens | In Moderation, Excess is Divine ft. Plane Jane, Dweezy and Tamara Dey | Free

01/02 | Sunday | Anti Social | Jagermeister Manifest x Black Sheep | Free

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

Business Bites 📂

Welcome to Melville: Good Omens

A new business graces 7th Street! Something is finally lighting up that cold, dark void left by Hell’s Kitchen almost four years ago.

The new bar and restaurant is brought to you by the owners of Bad Manors, a popular spot formerly in Parkhurst and Illovo. This exciting venture is called Good Omens. Georgie Michaels handles the numbers and operations, while Christopher Phillips drives the creative side. Georgie has a solid background, having run similar businesses like Street Bar, Proud Mary, and Karaoke Kong.

Brothers Georgie and Christopher have a long personal history with our hood, falling in love with the strip back in their younger partying years. They’ve always had a "soft spot" for Melville, which is why they jumped at the chance to open here. They aim to join the resurgence and help put Melville back on a "solid trajectory up," recreating that classic strip vibe where people hop from venue to venue.

The Vibe: They intend for Good Omens to be a socially inclusive space accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, race, or creed, with a specific warm welcome to the LGBTQI+ community. Expect diverse music events featuring DJs and bands across various styles.

The Food: The kitchen kicks into gear later in February, focusing on a low price point to cater to the community, especially late-night snackers. Expect "simple food" like boerie rolls, bar snacks, and steak options, along with weekly specials.

Hot Tip: On the last Sunday of every month, they’ll host a spit braai and Jazz afternoon.

Visit Good Omens this weekend for their official opening weekend at 4 7th St, Melville, Contact Georgie at 082 305 8580 for enquiries.

Civil Matters👷‍♀️

MRA Monthly Meetings Are Back

Next Tuesday, 3 February at 18:00, the MRA invites residents to 34 4th Avenue. Come hear what the committee has been up to, raise concerns, and engage with your neighbours.

Volunteer Alert: They are looking for a committee member for the Liquor Portfolio. If you know someone perfect for the job, drag them along!

CREASS Hard At Work

Following last week’s update, CREASS is well underway with brush cutting on Rustenburg Road. The team got stuck in on Monday and is nearly done. Keep an eye out for them on Saturday, they’ll be back to collect litter and complete some minor tasks.

The Water Woes Don’t Stop

A few streets, especially around 1st Avenue, have suffered from horrible water service delivery over the last three weeks. Councillor Kyle Jacobs updated the community yesterday:

"At this stage, there is no estimated time of restoration (ETR) for the streets affected by the loss of supply. We will continue to follow up with Johannesburg Water."

The Councillor has requested water tanks for the affected areas. To make matters worse, an internal power failure at Rand Water has significantly reduced pumping at the Eikenhof Pump Station. Hang in there, neighbours.

Joburg Gets an Ombudsman

Last week at the Koppies, we met the new Jozi Ombudsman, Adv. Siduduzo Gumede. He is a warm gentleman who was out engaging with the community to understand our service delivery issues. We’ll be interviewing him in an upcoming newsletter.

Get Help

The Ombudsman is coming to Region B to educate residents on their rights. Bring your ID, proof of residence, and municipal accounts if you need help with billing, complaints, City Power, or Joburg Water issues.

• Citizen Information Clinic: Thurs 5 Feb, 10am–4pm @ Ferndale Recreation Centre.

• Issue Resolution Open Day: Sat 7 Feb, 8am–4pm @ Randburg Civic Centre.

To get in touch with Adv. Siduduzo Gumede City of Johannesburg Ombudsman:

 010 288 2800 / 081 365 0225 or email: joburgombudsman.org.za

Melville Art Mile 🎨

Official Melville Art Mile Guide

The participant list for the Melville Art Mile Launch Event is here! You’re hearing it first.

Members have voted to register the Melville Art Mile as a Non-Profit Company (NPC) and open the event to non-art businesses. The only catch is that their first Thursdays activity must be in line with our mission of cultivating the local arts industry. Thus, we’ve grown from 13 galleries and studios to 18 stops on the map, activating the whole suburb from North at Bamboo, to the South at Die Pienk Kerk, and West at Melville Mudroom!

Official Launch Participants:

1. Die Pienk Kerk: Solo Jazz Pianist Luyanda Madope and the opening of the new art exhibition “Inner Sanctum”.

2. Melville Mansions: Exhibition Through Music: Kick off the evening with a guided art walk led by curators Abigale Calisse and Bilal da DJ, followed by a soulful sonic experience that brings the artworks and the night to life.

3. Avalon Art: Collaborative Exhibition: Works by Rae Wilmot and Hildegard (mother & daughter). Paintings, etchings, jewellery and handcrafted items workshop.

4. DGI @ 27 Boxes: Printmaking Launch: Introduction to the new printmaking workshop program.

5. Indoni Art House: First Exhibition of the Year: Fresh works setting the tone for 2026, featuring a contemporary dance performance.

6. Stokvel Gallery: Print Retrospective: Opening of a retrospective by established printmaker Many Conidaris, featuring printmaking demos.

7. Studio 79: Open Studio & Interactive Art: Tour of Martin Wenkidu's work and "A Conversation Through Colour" workshop.

8. Melville Mudroom: Playing with Clay: Pottery wheel demonstrations and an opportunity to participate in a clay craft activity.

9. chiesa di PAZZO LUPi: Metaphor Posts: An immersive exhibition featuring Hoenderdief's "Metaphor Posts"—a visual-poetry exhibition where words and images meet, and more to be announced.

10. The Trov: Featuring ceramic artist Harem's exhibition, coupled with a sound harvest healing session.

11. Hotel Hope Interiors: Shop & Create for a cause: Enjoy late-night shopping that supports Hotel Hope Ministries, accompanied by coffee, refreshments, and a hands-on origami demonstration by 21 Folds Origami.

12. Cafe Picobella Trattoria: Photography Exhibition: A Homage to "7th Street" – A fine art photography exhibition by Theo Bunge.

13. Six Cocktail Bar: Live Caricature & Art Sale: "Silly Sketches" session by Bijion, displaying some of his best masterpieces for sale around the venue.

14. 51 4th ART: Group Exhibition: "Various Artists" showcasing different media. Includes Café Rendezvous with a few of Melville Market's best curated stalls.

15. Anti-Social Social Club: TBC.

16. The Titanic Museum SA: Africa’s largest Titanic model & exhibition at a discounted price.

17. Resource Gallery: Lunga Mkila (Vinyl listening + painting session) R200/pp (for free ticket holders) canvas+painting+glass of wine.

New Features

The Bamboo Lifestyle Centre tenants are joining the party! Expect live music on the balcony overlooking 9th Street, drinks hosted by Tinsel, and the Melville Artisanal Market spread around the parking lot. Service Station will be serving special treats and finger foods.

Tickets

It’s crucial to register for your ticket, even the free one, to get your wristband and map.

• The Map: Shows you where and when everything is happening.

• The Wristband: Unlocks specials and discounts at most restaurants on the night (full list in next week’s newsletter).

• R120 and R350 ticket holders get free rides on the Remax Rover TukTuks and access to workshops and activities all night.

• R350 ticket holders get a curated experience of the whole Melville Art Mile, with immersive activities, complimentary drinks, Tuktuk rides and a souvenir by Melville’s very own crochet artist Hellies Handwork.

Another massive shout-out to our community champion businesses for helping us make this happen.

• Café Picobella Trattoria & Xai Xai: Powering the MAM staff on the night, keeping our security and marshals fed.

• Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty: For marking the route beautifully and keeping our support staff hydrated.

• Melville Security Initiative: For keeping the route safe with a security marshal and coordinating safety

• IKO Afrika: For stitching up the iconic Melville green and white bunting that mark our participating venues and Tuktuks.

• Hellies Handwork: For the beautiful hand crafted souvenirs for our VIP tour guests.

Don’t procrastinate, get your tickets now!

The Tail End 🐾

Flea Fight

Our first tip of the year comes from Gail at Bounty Hunters Charity Shop. She’s noticed a massive flea issue lately, with many standard treatments losing effectiveness.

The Fix: Gail recommends a product called Frontline (available at Ziggy’s Pet Pamporium).

Budget Option: If Frontline is out of budget, Flea Power is your next best bet!

Koppies Check-In ⛰

Koppies Sunday Closure

Melville Koppies Central will NOT be open this Sunday, 1 February. The Runzone race will see 8,000 runners congesting the Emmarentia and Marks Park areas, making access impossible. We'll see you the following week!

Thank you! 🙏

Woop! There it is, the second Melville Untold newsletter of the year in the can... and on time! (Barely 🥲)

If you enjoyed the read, why not buy us a coffee? 

You can also support us by booking our VIP Curated Tour of the Melville Art Mile next week, it includes free activities, rides, complimentary drinks, and a surprise souvenir by Hellies Handwork. You don’t wanna miss it!

Did we miss something? Give us the scoop by replying to this email.

‘Til next Wednesday, Melville.

Stay wholesome, stay witty, and stay wild!

Tschüss. ✌️