Four days after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a 21-day lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic: business-doors closed, universities went online and families were restricted to each other, in their homes. Only essential services would remain in business during SA’s first ever lockdown, said President Ramaphosa.
M.Adams & Co’s Supermarket. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
Kenilworth was quiet on the morning of 27 March. Everyone was inside. Gates closed. Cars parked. But at the intersection of Putney and Goldbourne Road, the local M.Adams & Cos Supermarket remains open.
Owners Allie and Fatima Adams were quick to apply for an essential services license to keep their business doors open. “We still need to serve our Kenilworth community,” said Fatima.
From left to right: Fatima and Allie Adams, owners of M.Adams & Co’s Supermarket, Kenilworth, stand in front of a curtain that covers cigarettes they would normally sell to locals, in their store. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
A gloom seems to hover over many businesses due to the lockdown but the local store thrives, Fatima said. This was unexpected for both Fatima and Allie.
The three-generation store started 93 years ago, in 1927, by Fatima’s grandfather’s uncle. He travelled from India to South Africa. The family followed.
“This is all I know,” said Fatima, who started manning the store alongside her brother, around 40 years ago, after helping her dad in the store since the age of 12.
According to the owners, there was no question whether the store would remain open during the lockdown. Allie applied for their essential services license and set some regulations in place. Only three people are allowed in the store at a time. Fatima and Allie are diligent about sanitising. The atmosphere remains warm, said Fatima.
Shopping baskets are looking different
Some new faces are entering the local store and more grocery items are being bought, said Fatima.
“[Customers] have been buying more things than they normally would buy. They will walk around and see ‘Oh, I need flour’ and ‘Oh, I need yeast’ or they will just buy bread and milk,” Fatima said. “The business has flourished.”
The local store only allows three customers in the store at a time. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
The pink-walled store offers an intimacy due to the shop’s small size. This intimacy is something bigger stores cannot create, said Fatima.
“[The community] shouldn’t have to travel so far, and because [the corner store] is very small, there won’t be loads and loads of people,” Fatima said.
Stocked-up
To meet the customer demand, M.Adams & Co’s Supermarket gets more stock than usual, like an expanded selection of fresh vegetables that stands close to the entrance.
On the day of MatieMedia’s interview, the owner’s niece would go to the wholesalers to get stock – what she would come back with, Allie and Fatima didn’t know. “I don’t know whether they are fully stocked,” Fatima said.
“If we have a down day – yes we accept it. If we have a busy day – yes we accept it,” said Fatima.
One of Adam’s milk suppliers has stopped their supply during the lockdown. One milk supplier now supplies the family-business with milk for the week. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
Fresh bread comes in daily, said Fatima, and the sweets remain stocked for the children in the neighbourhood.
There is a little girl in the neighbourhood who comes to the shop. “She is about four. Her mom sits in the car and [the little girl] gets ice cream and bread, as she walks around with her little basket,” Fatima said. She does her own shopping – ice creams, said Fatima.
A community gathering
According to Rory Moore, the head of Kenilworth’s neighbourhood watch, M.Adams & Co’s Supermarket plays a pivotal role in the community. The local store is at the centre of what Kenilworth residents consider to be a close community, he said.
“Not only does [ M.Adams & Co’s Supermarket] provide convenience but they also house our book exchange,” said Rory Moore, the head of Kenilworth’s neighbourhood watch, adding that the local store is also a place for locals to publish and post notices. PHOTO: Rebecca Pitt
“This is a little space where people can come and talk about what is bothering them. If there are old people and they are lonely, they come here to chat,” Fatima said.
For Fatima the local store acts as the community hub, she said: A place of care and gathering, albeit limited – especially in the time of a pandemic.