Friday afternoons is the time when the Johannesburg CBD (including areas such as Berea, Yeoville, Braamfontein, and Hillbrow) is all abuzz with people leaving their offices rushing to head to the suburbs or to have sundowners located at their preferred watering holes. As part of Johannesburg CBD’s resurgence bars and restaurants have mushroomed and it appears that people like the notion of enjoying and entertaining themselves in the reaches of the inner city.
Cappello Restaurant, located on Main Street, is a spot visited by the younger generation. According to the manager, Berry Oldworth, apart from Friday nights, a large part of their clientele is day patrons. People are in love with the vibe that defines the city. It is the beginning of a new age and people are starting to have faith in the city more as well as believe that they can exist in the CBD happily with everything they need right at their fingertips.
With a rapidly growing culture of people remaining in the CBD after work hours, businesses are booming. It has become a great excuse for many employees in the Inner City to pop into their local restaurants/bars in order to avoid traffic during peak periods. Some hotspots benefitting from this trend include the Market Theatre and the Marung restaurant, located on the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre. Then there is Ninos in the Bank City, located in the neighborhood of the major bank headquarters. The inner city is also a home for musicians, culture thespians and artists who further add to business and property demand.
Neil Fraser, director of the Johannesburg Development Agency, has highlighted the role of art in helping rejuvenate the city. He notes that street art has helped humanize the city. The owner of the Worldart gallery, Charl Bezuidenhout, wants to establish the inner city of Joburg CBD as a premier destination. The independent galleries of the inner city cater to a young crowd who would not normally risk going into the centre of the town.
The 18th floor as well as roof of the Lister building that is situated on Bree Street has a mix of artistic exhibitions as well as music performances. Gavin Rooke, who owns the Rooke Gallery Newtown, believes that trends from cities such as London and New York strengthened his decision to purchase the gallery.
All-in-all, the re-growth of the inner city has a positive effect on owners of investment property in areas in and surrounding the inner city as demand continues to flood the area.