57 years of serving the Lyttelton community
“When my partner and I bought the then called Jet Café in 1965, the only other businesses in Lyttelton were Van Wyk Supermarket, an OK Bazaar, a pharmacy, a barber, a milk depot, a floral shop and lots of trees and veld.”
A pioneer from Lyttelton, Centurion, recently turned 80 and is still going strong.
Lyttelton Fresh Produce Housewives Market has been part of residents’ life for the past 57 years.
One of its original owners, José Fernandes, recently celebrated his 80th birthday and residents still find him working at the store.
“When my partner and I bought the then called Jet Café in 1965, the only other businesses in Lyttelton were Van Wyk Supermarket, an OK Bazaar, a pharmacy, a barber, a milk depot, a floral shop and lots of trees and veld.
“There were only a couple of houses, but from River Road to Irene, there was nothing. Then came Doornkloof, and then came Centurion.”
José said he was a youngster of around nineteen when he immigrated in 1961 from Madeira. He worked for four years in Germiston at a shop that sold fish and chips.
“Then I moved here and my partner and I bought the café and changed its name to Lyttelton Fresh Produce. It was located at the centre next to us, and when the milk depot closed and the floral shop moved, we expanded.
“In 1965 our landlord upgraded the centre and said to us that we must choose between running a café and a fruit and vegetable store, and we opted for the latter.”
Today it is a family-owned business. Both José’s second eldest and youngest sons, Paul and Robbie, work at the store and has shares. His eldest son emigrated to Australia.
Jose said his first wife passed away in 1981 and two years later he married his wife, Susana, in 1983. She also still works with him at the store.
“In 2001 when I wanted to buy these premises and move here, my partner opted out. My sons Paul and Robbie then bought his shares and became co-owners.
“When we bought and moved the premises in 2005, we added Housewives Market to the name.”
Paul (41) eldest of the two brothers, said he has been working in the shop during weekends since he was 11 years old and full time since 1990 after completion of his national service.
“We will keep up the family tradition as one of the oldest shopkeepers in Lyttelton, and probably in the country, to supply the residents of Lyttelton with the best fruit and vegetables at the best price.”
He thanked residents for their kindness and best wishes on his father’s birthday on January 26.
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