Protests, drug dealers, municipal staff on a spending spree, kids missing, a woman kidnapped – stories such as these have unfortunately become too frequent in Knysna. Although they are in the public interest and essential to discuss, they are also the reason why it is as important to shine a light on those wonderful people who are pushing back with passion and business that colours our town beautifully.
Shop owners in Grey Street are halting urban decay with investment and initiative. At 9 Grey Street, you’ll find three have made their frontage pretty with plants. Dolores Coullie, owner of the delightful Pata Patina, has even planted spinach. With assistance from Stephen Sajada, the local car guard, they have planted shrubs and flowers around the trees that stand in between nearby parking spaces.
200 metres away, Oldes Pub & Grill has made a bold statement with rich brown paint on its walls and a cool green roof. New signboards blaze merrily and fit in well with the natural vibe of Knysna. Recently they gave a thank you party to their customers and brought in Sujo who you can see in the photo above – well done to the mother and daughter team of Pat Harris and Priscilla Young.
Two premises down, into Rawson Street, the Garden Roots Discount Nursery has triumphantly occupied what was once a dilapidated building with a garbage collecting ‘garden’. Owner Reg Frates and his assistant Blessing Chopenga have decorated the area with plants for sale, totally transforming an eyesore into a smile.
Back into Grey, standing massively between Nelson Street and Main Street/N2, is the Garden Route Centre. From the pavement, its dull face brick seems to stretch halfway up the sky and has been a complaint by some who feel that Knysna is losing its natural charm. But owner Michael Georgiou is deep into renovations that are clearly transforming its appearance. There’s a lot more white and some walls have been replaced with glass so as to sparkle with welcome. Its bound to attract better quality shops which will, in turn, add value to the area.
Turning right into Main Street, pedestrians are kept company by delightful pots filled with indigenous shrubs and flowers. This excellent initiative by Stella Sohn and her Knysna in Bloom project runs proudly on both sides of the road, all the way from Knysna Mall to the Knysna Municipality’s Service Centre.
Just before we get to the latter, we find the family-owned, Africa Bean Coffee Shoppe. Having the large window open so that beverages can be served straight into the street adds ambiance… and who can resist the smell of coffee. Vanessa, Nicole and Lauren Correia shared this message: “African Bean was born out of a necessity to bring life and beauty back into Main Street.”
They and all the others mentioned are loving Knysna through positive effort so be sure to take notice and beat the blues by passing on their good cheer.
Thank you to them all!
