Home / FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Oriental Plaza is a trader-owned shopping centre in Fordsburg, Johannesburg, trading since 1974. Locals come for fabric, bridal and matric dance wear, jewellery, perfumes, footwear and food, all sold by the people who own the shops. Here are direct answers to what people ask most before visiting.
Where can I find wedding suits in Johannesburg?
Oriental Plaza in Fordsburg is one of the most concentrated places in Johannesburg to source a wedding suit or sherwani.
The Grand Bazaar and South section hold a run of menswear and tailoring specialists who make up sherwanis and formal suits to measure, alongside the bridal stores that dress the rest of the wedding party. Most traders can turn a made-to-measure order around within a few weeks — ask about timing when you order.
Does Oriental Plaza have fabric stores?
Yes — fabric and haberdashery is the trade Oriental Plaza is best known for.
A dense run of fabric merchants sell dress material, bridal fabric, trims and buttons by the metre, and most cut it themselves on the spot. It's the main reason buyers drive in from across Gauteng and beyond.
Where to buy matric dance gowns in Joburg?
The bridal stores in Oriental Plaza's Grand Bazaar are a well-known source for matric dance gowns in Johannesburg.
The same stores that dress brides stock and make up formal gowns for matric dances, with alterations available on site. Going on a weekday morning gives you the most time with a fitter before the October–November rush.
What jewellery stores are at Oriental Plaza?
Oriental Plaza has a cluster of gold, silver and costume jewellery stores, concentrated in the Grand Bazaar.
They sit within a few minutes' walk of the bridal stores, which is why a full wedding outfit — gown or sherwani plus jewellery — can usually be sourced in a single morning.
Where to buy perfume in Fordsburg?
Oriental Plaza's fragrance and cosmetics traders are a go-to for perfume in Fordsburg.
Stores here sell branded fragrance and perfume oils side by side, and traders will generally talk you through a scent rather than just selling off the shelf.
Does Oriental Plaza have food stalls?
Yes — food traders and kiosks run through the South section and the walkways between the blocks.
Samoosas and chilli bites are best fresh through the morning; sit-down grills and curry get busiest between noon and 2pm. Nearly everything is halaal, and where a kitchen isn't, it's signposted at the counter.
What are Oriental Plaza's trading hours?
Oriental Plaza trades Monday to Saturday: 9am–5pm on weekdays, 9am–3pm on Saturday, and is closed Sundays.
Selected stores close 12:30–1:30pm on Fridays for Friday prayers, and some open Sundays during Ramadan and the festive season. Individual traders vary their own hours around stock-take and religious observance, so phone ahead if you're driving in for one specific shop.
What is Oriental Plaza and where is it located?
Oriental Plaza is a trader-owned shopping centre in Fordsburg, a suburb of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, trading continuously since 1974.
It's a trader-owned complex of over 300 independent stores across 17 hectares, known for fabric, bridal and matric dance wear, jewellery, perfumes, footwear, clothing and food — not a mall with anchor tenants, but block after block of specialist owner-run shops.
Is Oriental Plaza open on Sundays?
No — Oriental Plaza is closed on Sundays for most of the year.
The exceptions in 2026: two Sundays in Ramadan (1 and 8 March) and four in the festive season (29 November, 6, 13 and 20 December), 9am–3pm each time. Outside those, the centre trades Monday to Saturday only.
What are the different sections of Oriental Plaza?
Oriental Plaza is split into three sections: North, South and the Grand Bazaar, each identified by a letter in the shop code.
North (N) is an open-air, single-storey block; South (S) runs over an upper and a lower level; the Grand Bazaar (C) is the three-storey circular building between them, home to most of the bridal and jewellery stores. Kiosks are freestanding stalls in the walkways.
Is there parking at Oriental Plaza?
Yes — surface parking runs along all four sides of the complex.
It fills from mid-morning on Saturdays and through December, so arriving before 10am gets you closer to the section you need.
Can you bargain on prices at Oriental Plaza?
In most stores, yes — asking for a better price on volume or cash is normal and expected.
It's not seen as rude here. Some stores are fixed-price and will tell you so upfront; everywhere else, asking what the price is for cash or for the quantity you actually want is standard practice.
Does Oriental Plaza accept card payments?
Most stores at Oriental Plaza accept card, though cash moves faster at busy counters.
Card works in most shops, but the quickest queues — especially for food — are usually the ones that don't need a machine. Worth carrying some cash alongside a card.
Where can I get a sherwani made in Johannesburg?
Oriental Plaza's menswear and tailoring specialists make up sherwanis to measure for weddings and matric dances.
They sit alongside the bridal stores in the Grand Bazaar and South section, so a groom's outfit and the rest of the wedding party can usually be sourced within a short walk. Ask about turnaround time when you order.
Does Oriental Plaza have curtain and upholstery stores?
Yes — curtaining and upholstery is Oriental Plaza's single largest trade group.
Dozens of specialists sell made-to-measure curtaining, upholstery fabric and soft furnishings, concentrated mostly in the North section.
Where can I buy leather goods in Fordsburg?
Oriental Plaza's leatherware stores, mostly in the North section, sell jackets, belts, wallets and leather accessories.
They sit near the luggage and bag traders, so leather goods and travel bags can be compared in the same short stretch of the North walkway.
Is Oriental Plaza good for kids' clothing and toys?
Yes — Oriental Plaza has dedicated kids' fashion and toy stores, concentrated in the Grand Bazaar.
Clothing and outfitting for children runs from newborn through to teens, with toy stores nearby for the same trip.
Can I get alterations done at Oriental Plaza?
Yes — Oriental Plaza's tailors and dressmakers do alterations as well as made-to-measure work.
A straightforward hem through to a full made-to-measure suit or gown can be handled on site, which is why bridal and matric dance shopping here usually includes a fitting before you leave.
How do I find a specific shop number at Oriental Plaza?
Search the store directory by name, trade or shop number, or use the letter in the shop code to find the right section.
N is North, S is South, C is Grand Bazaar, and KIOSK marks the freestanding walkway stalls — the number after the letter counts along the walkway from there.
Is Oriental Plaza open during Ramadan?
Yes — Oriental Plaza trades through Ramadan, with selected stores adding Sunday hours (9am–3pm).
The regular midday closure for Friday prayers still applies. The run-up to Eid is one of the busiest periods of the year for bridal and fashion, so earlier in the week tends to be quieter.
How is Oriental Plaza different from a shopping mall?
Oriental Plaza is a trader-owned complex of independent specialist shops, not a mall leased out to national chain tenants.
Because owners are also the traders behind the counter, prices are commonly negotiable, stock reflects individual specialisms rather than a fixed retail mix, and competing shops sit side by side rather than spread across the country — which is exactly why fabric, bridal and jewellery buyers can compare several specialists in one short walk instead of one mall visit.