Salt Circle Arcade (photo Thomas Mihal)

Exciting times in Woodstock. The Salt Circle Arcade has opened its doors. The ‘mall’ is located almost directly opposite the Biscuit Mill and next to the Positive Imaging Print Gallery/Blank Books, just a little further along towards the Salt River traffic circle. There is parking in the back for those busy Saturdays.

So far 3 shops have taken residence. More shops will follow soon and there’s talk of a coffee shop opening at the back. It will be interesting to see how this develops over the next few months. I’m happy that they have maintained the original exterior (let’s not quibble about colour) though the chicken wire burglar bars are a little out of place. Otherwise looking good.

Karizma Exterior (photo Thomas Mihal)

Karizma Décor & Design

Relocated from the Sir Lowry Strip, Karizma (owned by Steven & Karen Thomson) has taken two units at the front entrance. They specialize in art deco, retro 60s furniture as well as 80s opulence (think chrome) and even some Lucite furniture. Toni, who runs the place, is well-informed about all things furniture and happy to answer any questions you may have.

Toni from Karizma

Karizma Interior 1

Karizma Interior 2

Details

Website:   www.karizmadecor.co.za
Email:     [email protected]
Office:    0214651426

Henry – Garment Architecture

Henry Interior

Deciding that Woodstock is definitely the place to be, owner and manager brothers David Davey and Scott Miller specialize in vintage couture as well as some new items. This is their first venture and the shop looks cool. You can also find them on facebook.

Henry Clothing

Details

Website:   http://garmentarchaeology.blog.com

The Woodstocker

The Woodstocker - Exterior

This is a satellite shop for the Woodstocker run by Chevonne. (Frequent visitors might know the main branch in the Altona Hotel on the Main raid). You can find antique furniture and accessories as well as new wooden furniture. There are some good bargains if you’re willing to finish them yourself.

Chevonne from the Woodstocker

The Woodstocker - Interior

Details

Website:   www.woodstocker.co.za
Email:     [email protected]
Office:    +27 (0) 21 447 8566

Woodstockers seem to be religiously religious, judging by the churches, mosques and the old Jewish cemetery, all supplemented by spiritual offerings – tarot cards float about, mphephu is burnt, committed vegans flaunt their tofu offerings and bookshops have no shortage of Eastern-inspired books on the matter. With the influx of foreigners from African countries, pastors have followed their flocks from Nigeria, the DRC and Zimbabwe, to create spaces where music and expatriate support remind new Woodstockers of old homes.

My mission starts up in Walmer Estate, where the Worcester Road Gospel Hall dates from 1932. Close by, the historic Azzavia Mosque was built in 1920 when a river still bubbled beside it – now restricted to an underwater storm water pipe that occasionally spouts winter waters over the road. On Eastern Boulevard’s seaside a friendly woman tells me about the religious offerings there – and gives me a coconut-flavoured cake. We’re in the aptly named Chapel Street, where St. Philip’s Church and Rectory (Anglican) also hosts a trauma centre and a few graves. Not much further the Theatre in the District has taken possession of old sandstone church for a different kind of religious experience. AD 1885, states a cornerstone, but the history-plaque has been replaced by a security company’s sign-of-the-times-board. Another gracious local, with beard and fez, tells me about the mosques in the area… and his fruit-selling business.

The road continues to Woodstock Industrial Centre, encircled by churches and a mosque. Action Chapel (Home of Sign[s] & Wonders) is between Withit Industries and Rainbow Family Church (Rising Sun Ministries). Diagonally across the road is The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church of Southern Africa Diocese of Cape Town, with its Said Mass once and Sung Mass twice a week. Behind the centre is the face brick Sulaimania Mosque (Opened 30min before waqt and close 30min after for security reasons), which was completed in 1954. There’s no rest for the wicked, because another 200m leads one to the Lower Church Street sign, framed by the Family Worship Centre (Greater Life Ministries) as well as the House of Glory Ministries (Services, Counsel[l]ing, Bookshop and Resource Centre). Behind me the forlorn Jewish graves of the Cape Town Hebrew Congregation (Old Albert Road Cemetery 1848-1887) is visible through the cracks of wooden swing doors.

I head towards Devil’s Peak, and the offerings per square kilometre only increase. The Lord’s Chosen (Charismatic Revival Ministries, Headquarters in Lagos by Ijesha Bus-Stop)’s tagline is “Heaven at Last”. Excitedly I run up the industrial staircase, but graffiti and an old bullet-like hole only lead to a closed security gate, behind which a soulless room with chairs await the next service. Revival music drifts around and a television screen in the corner shows a charismatic preacher spearheading the wordless action. In Victoria Road the Bible Life Ministries (Door and Free Parking at the Back) is tucked in between Woodstock Gold (Ca$h for Gold) and Patrice’s Unisex Salon (Shaving, Barber, Trimming, Dreadlocks). Nearby Cash Crusaders fights its own battle, while Hoosain’s Moslem Butchery awaits its Halaal meat delivery.

Heading back to Albert Road, is a church with no name (the cornerstone says Rt. Hon. C.J. Rhodes P.C.: D.C.L.: M.L.A. July 1899 was here), but an old age home is attached to it. According to a staff member, who only notices the lack of signage for the first time, it’s “The Presbyterian Church of Woodstock”. But one block further a staff member of another church, the Woodstock Baptist Church (offers a morning service, followed by Lunch in the Park), says the Fountain of Joy rents the aforementioned church building from the Presbyterians, who now go elsewhere. The Baptist Church, where a white swan pot plant keeps vigil, was itself formerly the Woodstock Dutch Reformed Church (the cornerstone reads in Dutch “Deze Steen Werd Gelegd 1 Mei 1897. Door Den Hoog-Eerw. Professor Hofmeyr”), and happens to be the place where my great-grandfather was a dominee. Surely a Huguenot’s heart swells with pride when hearing that the church now offers services in French due to new immigrants? And, says the lady, had I seen the New Apostolic Church? I retrace my steps to see this one (Visitors Are Heartily Welcome), and come across more, like the House of Kings Jeremiah Training Centre (A Ministry Training School, Next Class Starts Friday) and, at the Church Square development, a classic 1898 offering that now houses Haldane Martin furniture creators (“offers a sense of belonging to our world and the spirit of the times”). A block away is the palace-sized St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, with its primary school and monument dedicated to its men that fell in The Great Wars.

Now I aim at the railway line, where an old church (1893) today hosts the vamp furniture shop. A Dutch inscription reads “Samuel, Van Den Heere Gebeden, Ook Den Heere Overgeven” (“Asked of the Lord and Given Over to the Lord”), but St. Mary’s School is inscribed on the building next door. What does it al mean?! Roodeblloem Road, where the bars and churches are cheek by jowl, each offering its own spirits, beckons. The All Saints Church Roodebloem (Anglican Church of Southern Africa) is active and has a monument to all Woodstock residents that fought in the World War II. But diagonally across an unmarked church (cornerstones laid in 1904, plaque illegible) hosts a photographic studio where chic youngsters parade around.

I’m about to call it a day when…Hell, I forgot the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St George in Mountain Road! There the icon is slaying the dragon, and I can finally say I’ve seen enough, even though I’ve definitely not seen it all… So when you hear the muezzin call, or the church bell toll, or the sound system blasting – in architectural beauties, in dilapidated industrial concrete blocks, in homes and on street – appreciate the fact that religious tolerance (and freedom from religion) is truly practised in our neighbourhood. Heavenly, isn’t it?

7 years ago the building was derelict and empty, with no plumbing or electricity, and although its proximity to the city couldn’t be faulted, none of the bigger letting agents were interested in developing it. Today it’s a thriving creative hub, with a trendy coffee shop, an independent bookstore, an events venue and all the studios fully let with 70 tenants and an equal amount on the waiting list. For the last 3 years the developers have only been taking in creative tenants, so they have a coffee roastery, some designers, and lots and lots of artists, including big names like Faith47, Kathryn Smith and Andrew Gibson, and up and coming artists like Senyol and Love and Hate.

The Woodstock Industrial Centre is in some ways a typical of the improvements we have seen in Woodstock in the later years. But what many people don’t know is that the owners have been instrumental in the development of Woodstock, and admit that the rate of improvement has surprised even them.

Part owner and manager of the building, Elad Kirshenbaum, is also the chairman of the Woodstock improvement district, and so has a vested interest in the improvement of the area. After initially taking on mostly manufacturing tenants, they soon had enquiries from some pioneering artists and realized that creatives were the ideal tenants. They were quiet and clean (well paint stains versus oil and grease) and it was on trend with other developments in the area. So over a number of years they made the conversion to creative tenants, and have built up a like-minded community of creatives. Elad also has a noticeable interest in the artists and the creative events they play host to in the building such as A Word of Art, so it wasn’t purely a business decision.  Says Elad: “The added value of the artists’ creativity to the building if by far greater than the price we get per square meter. You can not put a price on inspiration.”

The building itself has lots of beautiful natural light so its easy to see why it is popular with artists. The oldest part of the building dates from 1900 and the newer part from the 1960’s. Walking through the building it has a great industrial vibe and with the patina of old paint, it feels a bit like an art school. The landlords have also been very flexible and keen to keep their tenants happy, like allowing them to use the walls of the common areas as a canvas for their expression.
There is also an indoor skateboard ramp on the first floor for the exclusive use of tenants. Some tenants have even converted their studios into beautiful loft apartments/studios.

Elad subscribes the success of the venture to charging reasonable rates and  allowing for flexibility and creative expression.

Sadly the building is going on auction on 28 June, and if it does sell there is no telling what might happen to the building in its current incarnation. Elad says that the project has proven itself, and if it does sell he will replicate it elsewhere. In Woodstock of course. Watch this space!