Pink elephant landmark remembered in Boksburg North

For years, the pink elephant outside the bottle store on the corner of Trichardts and Cason roads was one of Boksburg North’s best-known landmarks.

It was used as a reference point by locals, providing directions long before smartphones.
Linda Blignaut (58) from Morganridge worked at the Pink Elephant Liquor Store from the early ’80s to 1990, and says the business was more than just a workplace for staff and customers.

“It was my first job. When I was still in school, I worked there as a packer to earn extra money. After I finished school, I went full-time.”

The store was owned by Portuguese brothers Tony and Ralph Farrinha. Linda said Ralph managed the store day to day, while Tony would visit periodically to check in on the business.

“Ralph was such a gentleman. He did a lot for the community as well.”
Linda worked alongside her sisters, Bettie Stolz and Antoinette Lachner. She said the staff environment was close-knit, and the owners’ families often added to the friendly atmosphere.

“It didn’t feel like a job. The owners’ wives would even cook lunch for us.”

The store was surrounded by other well-known businesses in the area at the time, including a bank and nearby shops. Linda said the close proximity of businesses created a strong sense of community, and it was also where she met her husband, whose family owned a nearby radio shop.

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The pink elephant itself became the store’s trademark. Linda said her sister, Bettie, traced the man who made the elephant back in the 1980s. The craftsman lived in Brakpan and was responsible for the standout feature that helped cement the store’s identity.

“I don’t know where they saw the pink elephant at first, but my sister had to find the man who made it.”
Inside, the work included stock-taking, receiving deliveries, and assisting regular customers. Linda remembers the popular drinks of the era as “mostly beers and brandy”, along with older favourites such as brown sherry and budget wines. She recalls a bottle of brandy costing about R5.95 at the time.

After her eldest son was born in 1990, Linda left her job due to the long hours.
In later years, the store traded under different ownership and became known as the Jumbo Liquor Market Blue Bottle, until a fire destroyed the building on December 17.
“It’s very sad. That store was a landmark. I hope they can restore it to its former glory and bring back the pink elephant.”

The Boksburg Advertiser recently revisited the store, and the damage appears extensive. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and it is unclear when the store will be rebuilt.

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