Alex’s Freedom Supermarket back with a bang

There was no pomp and ceremony when Freedom Supermarket opened its doors at exactly 06:30 on November 22 for the first time since the July looting.

The shop was razed to ground zero when looters emptied the shelves of groceries before setting it alight but it was back with a bang to do what it knows best – serving its customers.

A queue of loyal shoppers extended to Alex Magistrate’s Court on 2nd Street in Wynberg.

What stood out on the day was the amazing spirit in the air described as a ‘virtuous reunion of the shop and its long time customers’ in Alexandra, some of whom still have their stokvel monies invested in the shop for the usual Christmas shop fest.

Shop manager Luis Freitas was overwhelmed by the level of love and affection displayed by his customers of many decades who hugged and celebrated the reunion, with many saying ‘it was so good to back’ and others saying they could no longer wait to return to their ‘favourite discount store’.

“I was stunned by the level of support, compassion and warmth that I received from the people of Alexandra, some of whom have been our loyal shoppers for years on end since we first opened our doors 29 years ago.

“It was a moving reunion with all its virtues with our long-time customers, many of whom I am seeing for the first time in these five months of closure, rebuilding and finally the reopening today.

“The shop will do all in its power to appease its customers as it did before with its discounted process. We will continue with the values that have made us what we are in the eyes of this community,” Freitas assured the shoppers.

Judging from the long and windy queue, Freitas said they expected no less than 10 000 shoppers to walk into the ‘new’ Freedom Supermarket.