A well-known Stellenbosch barista opened his own coffee shop with the help of the Stellenbosch community, last week, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced him to seek out alternative means to provide for his family.
Justice Shamba, the owner of Coffee at Justice, set up a coffee shop in the laundry business The Missing Sock Laundry, on 1 September.
Justice Shamba, owner of Coffee at Justice serves coffee at The Missing Sock Laundry, in Stellenbosch. According to Shamba, he had dreamt about opening his own coffee shop since he started working at Häzz, five years ago. PHOTO: Lezanne Steenkamp
This was according to Charmainne Blom, owner of the laundry business. Shamba rents half of Blom’s space at The Missing Sock Laundry for Coffee at Justice.
“He took the leap, and he has an entire community supporting him,” Blom said.
Starting a small business in lockdown
For the last five years, Shamba worked as a barista at Häzz in Stellenbosch. However, due to the national lockdown, Shamba had fewer working hours and was unable to provide for his family, he said.
A Stellenbosch-based family connected with Shamba in August to help him start his own business, Shamba said. According to Shamba, the family had helped him purchase equipment and assisted with most of the start-up costs for the business. The family, who wishes to remain anonymous, regard Coffee at Justice to be a good investment.
The Missing Sock Laundry is located in Andringa Street, Stellenbosch. According to Charmainne Blom, owner of The Missing Sock Laundry, the success in having a coffee shop combined with a laundry business is the convenience of dropping your laundry off and then grabbing a coffee, whilst you wait. “People also come for coffee and then learn about The Missing Sock Laundry, and that in turn brings more business,” Blom said. PHOTO: Lezanne Steenkamp
“Covid-19 has been a difficult time, but we believe in growth and Justice felt the need to extend his opportunities,” said Kasifha Koopman, manager at Häzz in Stellenbosch.
Even though Covid-19 has forced a number of small businesses to close their doors, Shamba believes that it is the right time to open Coffee at Justice.
“With all the support I’m receiving, I feel like nothing is impossible,” Shamba said.
Justice Shamba, owner of Coffee at Justice, said that he believes that it is important to get to know his customers. Shamba aims to remember every name and face he comes across, according to him this is where his support lies. PHOTO: Lezanne Steenkamp
Mia du Toit, who has been buying coffee from Shamba for over a year, plans to be a regular customer at Coffee at Justice.
“Justice invests in every single customer – now it’s time to give back to him,” Du Toit said.