Balmoral stands on the corner like an old friend - familiar, steadfast, and always dressed in blue. The shade is unmistakable: bright, bold, and clean, painted across its walls and signs as if to announce itself against the ever-changing patchwork of Woodstock. That blue has become a beacon, a kind of neighborhood landmark, guiding shoppers through busy streets and back to a place where shelves are lined with the essentials of daily life. Inside, the hum of fridges and the rustle of packets create a steady rhythm, while outside, the blue façade catches the morning sun, glowing warm against the Cape Town sky. In a suburb where murals tell wild, shifting stories, Balmoral’s blue is its own quiet mural - one of constancy, sustenance, and community.
