OWNER of the well-known Bike & Bean franchise in Durban, Vicki Ferreira says she received notice in May of this year from the eThekwini Municipality that the lease for the restaurant in North Beach will not be renewed. Bike & Bean is one of three businesses that will be receiving new lessees, in an effort by the Municipality to develop Durban’s beachfront with upmarket developments.

Head of the City’s Real Estate unit Thapelo Mmusinyane explained: “In the period between May 2021 and November 2022, a total of 25 properties were advertised and 10 awards were made to new lessees. All 10 awards were made to companies that are 100% owned by historically disadvantaged individuals. On the beachfront in particular, properties that have been affected are Circus Circus, Bike and Bean, and Minitown.”

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Mmusinyane said these developments do not just affect tourism, but they accelerate economic empowerment through job creation. “Bike & Bean will transform into North Beach Lifestyle, a restaurant that has seen a R300 000 investment injection, with a cool yet classy vibe and will create approximately 15 jobs after the revamp is completed. The popular Circus Circus is currently being renovated to a stunning fusion of Africanism and art deco and will be christened Durban Beach Café. The vision of this establishment is to create an iconic tourism destination restaurant while capturing the spirit of the City. The anticipated opening for this venue is October 2023 and will create 45 jobs after construction, including absorbing the current staff currently employed by Circus Circus,” said Mmusinyane.

Mmusinyane went on to explain that the much-loved Minitown, which has been one of the City’s most popular places to visit, will undergo a total transformation, with a mixed-use hotel development which will encompass arts and crafts, kiosks for small businesses, retail spaces, a salon and spa and dining venues. “This will create approximately 150 jobs with a R170 million investment by the lessee on a 30-year lease,” he said.

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Ferreira said: “We were given notice in May 2023 that our lease, for the Bike & Bean Beach branch, had not been renewed. While we were sad at the decision, we were also incredibly grateful, for the all the amazing opportunities we had enjoyed at our very first shop which we opened in 2013, and all the people we had met, who became our B&B Family. One shop, soon became four, with B&B coffee shops now in uMhlanga (Forest Café), at On Point and the Bean & Bistro, both at the Waterfront.”

Minitown manager Desmond Deonarin said that all the businesses have been given a notice about the upcoming upgrade along the beach front. “As for Minitown we continuing to operate as normal. We are working with eThekwini Municipality to relocate Mini town along the Beach front, we have not received a notice date to vacate as yet,” he said.

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