Mom and Pop stores are increasingly rare in South Africa's middle class areas, where a few "7-11" chains, and "munch pumps" at the fuel stations now dominate. But move two steps away into the slightly lower income areas, and there are seeemingly hundreds of privately-owned stores.
Juthi's in Steenberg was a gift for me, looking for a "J" subject! But it also caught my eye because of how prosperous it looks. Situated near a railway station, commuters pour past this site. The two dominant advertisers are also typically South African: Vodacom is the biggest cell-phone company in the country; and Coca Cola have about 80% of the soft-drink market (Pepsi are a minor player here.)
But what really makes this a "home" picture is the small advert on the side wall for "Gatsbys". A quintessentially Cape Town fast food, Gatsbys are chiabatta-size loaves of bread cut open like a hamburger roll, and stuffed with fries, spicy sauces and maybe, on a flush day, some cheap meat. Loaded with trans-fats and indigestible white bread, there is nothing more satisfying when you are cold, broke or hung-over!
Originally started the project to improve my photography skills. Over a 2500 photos later it's become a personal diary. I post pictures that mark my...
