Nine Yards: A cultural precinct blossoming in Parktown North

21 Jan 2026

Rolling hills at Nine Yards, a "green town square" unfolding near busy Rosebank. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

A new pre-work ritual loading at Plato coffee, Nine Yards. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

Inside Artclub & Friends at Nine Yards, Parktown North. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

It's ironic that Parktown North is the only one of Joburg’s suburbs collectively known as "The Parks" that doesn’t actually have its own park. A stellar team is setting out to change that with Nine Yards, an ambitious destination taking shape across nine adjoining properties on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Chester Road. It extends out from The GardenShop, which has been a landmark in Joburg for many years (formerly the Keith Kirsten nursery). We have had a few opportunities to get a sneak peek of Nine Yards as it has unfolded from an empty canvas to a construction site, and now the start of a tenanted complex set amid a carefully landscaped space. From early on it has been evident that Nine Yards is going to be something special, a space you'll want to hang out in.

As of this week (Jan 22, 2026) a number of tenants are trading, with many more on the horizon*. The precinct is humming with a mix of construction sounds and birdsong, and already brimming with joy.

*Published January 2026. Nine Yards is working towards a full launch in March 2026; the public square for markets and community gatherings is still under construction.

New to the neighbourhood

Landscaped gardens and a winding pathway make Nine Yards a joy to explore. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

If you've passed by the Jan Smuts Avenue and Chester Road intersection, you'll have seen construction for Nine Yards busily under way. This area in Parktown North has long been home to The GardenShop nursery and, in 2025, welcomed a new addition we couldn't stop raving about: GardenFresh – a veggie shop with knockout produce and greenhouse-style charm. Conveniently close to central Rosebank, and just opposite Goodman Gallery and Benchwarmers Bar, the precinct occupies one of Johannesburg’s most quietly enviable locations.

Architecture without an agenda

We can see ourselves spending a lot of time in this grassy amphitheatre at Nine Yards. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

Nine Yards transforms 13 historical buildings – once back-of-house spaces hidden behind high walls – into a connected zone dedicated to food, art, and culture. Rather than demolishing or replacing, the project is anchored in adaptive reuse and heritage preservation: stitching together existing structures and thoughtfully scaled interventions. The result is a space that feels layered, local, and full of character. Everything, from the colourful tiled paving (you’ll feel like Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road) to the cleverly designed bathrooms with their Brutalist flair, reflects this attention to detail. Winding through the precinct is a lush, 450-metre garden promenade designed by award-winning landscape artist Patrick Watson.

A garden sanctuary on the edge of busy Rosebank is what Nine Yards will eventually be known as. Already the hints are here – from the bamboo forest to the little lake, the lush trees shading gathering spaces, and the sloped grass mounds that invite you to sit.

Developer Timothy Sammons of Cadastral Capital and Matthew Millar of Milarchi Architects head the teams behind the Nine Yards vision. "South Africa has always been about borders – the first thing we did here was break them down," Sammons told us when we first toured the property in October 2025. He describes it as "a positive space for Johannesburg – and a showcase for its best-in-class operators." For Millar, it's "architecture without an agenda". Nine Yards could easily have become just another strip mall among countless others in Joburg. Instead, it reimagines what an urban precinct can be: one that blends commercial vibrancy with public generosity, and heritage with innovation. "It's a dream project," says Millar.

A breath of fresh air

The vision for Nine Yards is a dynamic public space anchored by a central piazza, designed to host regular programming and seasonal markets. Its greenery and playful layout cultivate a sense of wonder, with plenty of tucked-away nooks perfect for lingering over a book or simply soaking up the calm. Families will especially love it here. Even your weekly shop feels less like a chore and more like a walk in the park.

The tenant mix

A sunny courtyard outside Plato coffee, Nine Yards. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

Among the early tenants to open are Plato coffee, one of our go-tos for an excellent brew in Joburg, and Zuney, a farm-to-table wagyu burger bar we've heard excellent things about. On the retail front, the focus is on brands with a strong community ethos: characterful Cape Town fashion label Artclub and Friends has its Jobrug base here, as does the homegrown Something Good Studio, where you can pick up artist collab knitwear, woven blankets, and other beautiful things. The growing tenant list promises even more discovery: among them, the flagship Nine Yards restaurant – located in the former home of postwar artist Giuseppe Cattaneo.

Full activation of Nine Yards is expected by March 2026. Here's the complete tenant list:

FOOD AND DELI
Ti Amo Bakery, GardenFresh, Sea & Stream, The Lokal

CAFES AND EATERIES
Olé Olé, Salvation Café, Gelato Mania, Plato

FASHION, DESIGN, AND BOUTIQUE STORES
Goat of Bespoke, Paul Kurt, Artclub and Friends, & by Andticks, Wanderlust, Houtlander, Verus Jeweller, Gallery Space, Essex Interiors, Something Good Studio, Acquature Living Art

WELLNESS AND SELF-CARE
The Well, BodyTec, Wild Hair, True Love Tattoos, Nunu's

GARDEN
The GardenShop

ART
Kumalo | Turpin (formerly Kalashnikovv Gallery)

Plan your visit

Find Nine Yards on the corner of Chester Road and Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North. Ample free parking is available on site.

Follow @nineyardsjhb on Instagram for updates.