Publications
Partners
A family store in the heart of Retreat that serviced the community for more than four decades burnt to the ground on Monday 24 July, leaving more than 20 people displaced.
Hassan Omar (71), owner of the building for more than 40 years, said he was notified of the fire while having supper on Monday night.
“Last week Monday, we had load shedding between 18:00 and 20:00. I was having my supper when my daughter showed up and said to come down because the shop was burning.
“I pushed my food aside, came down and saw the fire across the rooftop. There were people who went in and plundered the shop and they didn’t care whether there were people inside or not.”
Omar says, according to tenants, the fire was started by a heater.
“People are saying when the lights went off, one of the tenants had his heater switched on and obviously while it was load shedding the heater was off. Once the lights went on, the heater was back on and the guy was apparently not in the room, so his blankets caught fire.”
Fire and rescue services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said the fire was reported at 20:55 on Monday 24 July.
“The incident was reported at 20:55 as a building and dwelling alight on 24 July in 3rd Avenue, Retreat. Crews from Lakeside, Wynberg, Constantia and Ottery were on the scene with three fire engines, a water tanker and a rescue vehicle each.”
He added the blaze was extinguished by 23:50.
“There was substantial damage to the shop and the dwelling.
“A total of 27 people were displaced and no injuries were reported.”
According to Omar, the building was one of the oldest buildings in the neighbourhood.
“This store and St George’s Primary School are the oldest buildings here. The buildings have been here for around 75 to 80 years.”
While Omar owns the building, the Hassan Food Store has been rented and run by a Malawian tenant for the past 14 years.
Reminiscing about the time he purchased the building from the previous owner, Omar described it as “the good old days”.
“Back then, the store used to sell on the ‘bookie’ (credit). People would sign the book and pay at the end of the week.
“There wasn’t any crime back then.”
After working at a bakery and shoe shop, Omar purchased the building more than 40 years ago.
“I worked at Blue Ribbon and in those days it was called Lakeside Bakery in Salt River around 40 years ago. I also worked at a shoe shop.
“I worked myself up the ladder there, and then after a long service I decided to take the package and start investing, and this was the very first place that came up for sale. At that time, I paid R45 000 for this whole building and at that time it was a lot of money.”
Omar and his family moved to the building and lived there while running the shop.
“I used to live here and I used to run the shop myself. At the time, when I worked for Lakeside Bakery, my wife used to run the shop and after work, I would work in the shop.”
The grandfather says he plans to rebuild the facility.
“I want to rebuild. This shop has been here for so many years so I would like to rebuild it. The building was insured, hopefully, I will be able to do that.”
