Cannot stay away from the Parks

Every shopping centre has a quiet corner, normally in the basement or upper levels. Down the stairs of the Parks shopping Centre in Parkwood, however, there is a corner with an interesting back story. In fact, this little corner contains enough to keep a girl happily occupied for quite a while. First off: the Polish Nail Spa is a glamorous and beautifully decorated nail bar that specialises in manicures, pedicures and all artificial nail systems. And since a girl can always do with a bit of luxurious pampering, a pedicure is always a good enough excuse for me to wander down here, as if you need one! 

Image credits: Polish Nail Spa

Next to the Polish Nail Spa is the Park Cafe. Their décor is bright pink and white with Philippe Starck chairs and funky Ritzenhoff tea and coffee cups. When I walked in and started chatting to Vicky, the owner, I stopped mid-sentence when my eye fell on their beautiful chrome Belle Époque Coffee Machine! Every little detail in the Café adds up to make it an indulgent yet relaxed coffee break in between the pedi and browsing at the irresistible gift shop next door. 

Which brings me nicely on to what is for me the highlight. Abby & Ross is a charming gift shop filled with beautiful coffee table books, lots of local design décor accessories and funky paper goods. Not to mention a range of stationery for young and old. The beautiful letterpress cards by Essie Letterpress caught my eye, and to top it all off they will gift wrap your purchase beautifully! 

One section of the shop is a kiddies corner, with toys, clothes, shoes and décor items. The children’s books are beautiful. 

Now for the promised back story. Polish Nail Spa was started by sisters Vicky Ross and Lexi Reckling in 2008. Vicky then opened Abby & Ross in partnership with the owners of the Park Café to fill the vacant shop on their level in this minute mall at the end of 2009. In July this year, the two business savvy sisters bought the Park Café. The end result: they have turned the quietest corner of the mall into the funkiest, most charming, most enchanted one. 

A couple of weeks ago I also wrote about Hermanna Rush, a fashion boutique upstairs in the same centre (you can read about it here). Seems like The Parks is turning out to be the small little centre that offers much, much more than what it size would suggest…

Lower Ground Floor (below Woollies)
The Parks Shopping Centre
Corner Jan Smuts & Wells Avenue
Parkwood
Johannesburg

Image credits: All photography by me