The first time I knew buffalo wings did not come from a buffalo was at Carlton Centre.
I was on a date and she ordered buffalo wings. I went along because I didn’t want to appear backwards.
I was pleasantly surprised when the order came and I realised that they were not made from a wild cow.
The news this week that Transnet is selling Carlton Centre did not come as a surprise. I haven’t been to that iconic building for many years, because downtown Jozi is a shadow of its former self.
In fact, soon after we attained democracy in 1994, many blue-chip companies fled downtown Jozi for the leafy northern suburbs.
The JSE and mining companies were the first to flee while the big four banks stuck it out for a while.
In its heyday, Carlton Centre was the tallest building in Africa where many memories were made there.
For plaasjapies, a school trip to Joburg was not complete without a visit to Carlton Centre, and the building’s 54th floor gave you a 360° view of Johannesburg and Soweto. The ice rink was also a favourite for children on an outing.
The late Brenda Fassie was a regular patron at the Curry Tavern while Nelson Mandela celebrated his 75th birthday at Carlton Centre. Famous medico, Dr Victor Ramathesele, rented his practice at Carlton Centre.
Many of us will remember romantic dates at Wimpy on the 50th floor or Juicy Lucy, while the fashion conscious will miss Spitz for its expensive Carvella footwear. A romantic date would be crowned with a visit to the Kine Centre to watch a movie.
Carlton Centre Hotel stopped operating in 1998 already.
Under the belly of Carlton Centre lies Small Street, a mugger’s paradise despite numerous CCTV cameras.
What surprises me is the price tag of the once famous building. Transnet bought it for R30-million in 1999 and is asking for a whopping R900-million for it. The value of a property is determined in part by by its neighborhood and the value of adjacent properties.
The refugee camp that is downtown Jozi will see Transnet struggle to attract a buyer for that amount. However, sceptical South Africans reckon the monied Chinese can easily swipe Carlton Centre and convert it into a flea market.
While he was mayor of Johannesburg, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba tried and failed to bring Jozi to its former glory.
For many of us, memories will linger.
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