Two decades of memories

In the middle of old Midrand lies an undiscovered gem – a place where small business entrepreneurs call home.

This place is Memories Corner Country Shops and it began in a very interesting way almost 20 years ago. In its first year, Memories was merely an antique shop spawned from the need to survive. The owners, Bruce and Carol Le Cornu, had stumbled upon hard times after a series of unfortunate events had left Bruce’s construction company in a shambles and his heart empty. Having to fight yet again for their hard-earned money, the couple, on a whim, took a few of their private antiques from their home, hired a garage in Crowthorne Shopping Centre, and started a small shop to try get by.

Both Carol and Bruce had owned their own companies – Carol had the Browse Around Boutique in Midrand City and Bruce had run a successful construction company for many years.

This meant that the couple understood business and were able to put the hours and dedication into this business to try and make it a success. That was 20 years ago, and now Memories Antiques has evolved from a tiny converted garage to one of the largest antique shops in Gauteng.

You can find the new Memories Antiques only a kilometre away from where it was first conceived as an idea. However, it is no longer a self-contained shop but something much more than that.

Carol and Bruce have managed to take their entrepreneurial vision and create a haven for like-minded small business ventures. The corner of Whisken and Neptune roads is the home of this small business oasis called Memories Corner Country Shops.

For those who don’t know the history of this property, they would be surprised to learn of its metamorphosis from an abandoned shebeen to an olde-world shopping centre. Carol and Bruce have spent the better part of 16 years building this dream from scratch and it is now the home to an array of other equally interesting businesses.

The couple will tell you that each business that has come and gone or stayed, was meant to be there and that they all bring something unique to the corner property stand. From the smallest one-man training company to a restaurant and bike shop, and a wide variety of other products, Memories Corner offers small businesses the opportunity to exist in these tough economic times … well worth a visit.

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