Three small rondavels built in the middle of nowhere 70 years ago have since grown into the now legendary Balalaika Hotel in the heart of Sandton.
The hotel, which is located on Maude Street, often referred to as the Wall Street of South Africa, was first built in 1948 by Gerard Le Grand and has undergone many changes over the years, while still maintaining its old world feel.
Le Grand came across the Good Hope Tea Room, which was used as a resting point between Johannesburg and Pretoria as there was no other development in the area at the time. Seeing the potential in the location, Le Grand began to build a couple of small rooms so that travellers could stay for a night or spend an afternoon in what was then the countryside.
The hotel first boasted 20 rooms and during the 50’s it added another 10. At that time the hotel developed itself into a popular dinner and dance restaurant in what was predominantly a farming community.
The hotel has been around longer than Sandton itself and celebrated its 21st anniversary the year that Sandton officially became a municipality.
In the decade that followed, the development of Sandton City transformed the municipality into the bustling business centre that is known by many today. Karin Pieters, marketing manager for the hotel said that just like the hotel, many of its employees have been around for decades and still recall memories from years past, including receiving booking confirmations via letters.
As the city has grown drastically, so too has the hotel, which now boasts over 300 rooms. In 2000, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange relocated to Sandton, opposite the hotel and the Bull Run restaurant opened up at the hotel in the same year. The term ‘bull run’ is often used in trading and mirrors the hotel’s ideal location opposite the stock exchange.
This year the restaurant was remodelled in a New York Stock Exchange style and will also be installing a massive 3.2m long and 2.2m high bronze bull outside the restaurant, reminiscent of a bull located outside the New York Stock Exchange.
Details: Balalaika Hotel 011 322 5000.
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