AP Jones, one of only two original Fish Hoek businesses still in operation, is celebrating its long heritage and its connection to its founder, Albert Pascoe Jones, with a mural on its building in First Avenue.
The store was established in 1928 by Mr Jones and his wife, Florence, and remains a family-run business today, now owned by their grandson, Greg Bing, and great-granddaughter, Lauren Bing.
Mr Jones and his wife had four children. Jennifer Jones, their youngest daughter, married Fritz Bing, who bought the store from the Jones family in 1984. Greg joined his parents the same year at the age of 23 (“Years of history in family store,” Echo, May 18, 2018).
The mural was Lauren’s idea, and it was completed by Constantia artist Chris Auret on Friday November 15.
Mr Auret says it took five days to complete and was inspired by a photograph of AP Jones leaning against a delivery van.
According to a commercial feature in the False Bay Echo for the store’s 80th anniversary in 2008, Florence persuaded her husband to pose for the photograph, “which he did grudgingly”, and minutes later, the van rolled forward down the slope, but, fortunately, a disaster was prevented.
Greg says he knew the building would need some “sprucing up” when he bought it from his parents in 2018, but then Covid happened.
A new roof and paintwork along the First Avenue side are among recent improvements to the building, and the Main Road entrance will be neatened up before Christmas, he says, adding that shoppers are encouraged to use the First Avenue entrance as there is ample parking and the façade is newly renovated.
Originally an agent for Garlicks, AP Jones bought a grocery store on Kommetjie Road. After renting Warwick House, which was built in 1923, from a Mr Burton, he expanded into selling clothing and material (“Looking back at then and now,” Echo, April 27, 2023).
The initial store was more of a women’s store, stocking mostly haberdashery, wool and material while the men’s department was a separate store located where Papa Joe’s is today.
In 1951, the store moved to its current location, and it expanded in 1977 when the family bought a house behind the building.
Mr Auret says the mural was one of his more challenging pieces as he and his assistant worked in strong winds on scaffolding at an angle on the roof.
“I consider myself as a conduit to help tell people’s stories. I make their visions come to life.”
Visit auret-art.com or follow him on Instagram at chris_auret. to see more of his work.
