New owner for old Bank building

OUDTSHOORN NEWS - "I never knew how much the residents loved this building until I bought it and started looking for ideas for businesses. My main goal is to become part of Oudtshoorn and use the building for something that would also make the residents happy."

This is the message from the new owner of the infamous, historic Standard Bank building in Church Street.

Dave Chan is originally from China, but a South African businessman for the last 10 years.

He said he recently bought the building because he wants to move his businesses to the Western Cape.

"I own a few businesses in Bloemfontein, but wanted to move so I started looking for businesses to buy online when this building popped up. I remembered it as I drove past it a while back while I was on vacation. It drew my attention back then, but I never knew that it was for sale."

Chan said he initially wanted to open an upmarket, high end value product store with quality Chinese products in the building, but realised that a similar business was already planned.

"I started talking to residents about the building and also tried to figure out what they think the town needed and that is when I realised whatever I am going to open should be something really special. This building has a lot of emotional value for the people of the town and has a very rich history, apart from the fact that it is a beautiful building. I believe that whatever opens here has the potential to be a huge success, but the aim is to start something that also has the possibility of promoting the town of Oudtshoorn. It would be great if this building could attract more tourists to town."

According to Chan it is very important to him to restore the building.

"I am using a contractor affiliated with the Heritage contractors. To restore the electricity that has been damaged by the people who broke in and slept in the building already cost me lots of money, but my dream is to restore the building in such a way that residents can be proud of it again.

"The building stood vacant for years and Oudtshoorn Courant wrote about it a few times after people broke in and started to vandalise the building. Copper pipes were broken off, as well as the cast iron railings that were in front of the building. Chan also said that he reported a number of additional damages to the building.

"What I could not understand was that the people who broke in used the rooms in the building as a toilet instead of the toilet itself."

He said he wants to invite residents and other business owners or even people with ideas to speak to him and give input on what they think a good business would be to open in the Standard Bank building.

"I am open for ideas and suggestions. I would like to get to know the community and maybe even be a bridge between the South African and the Chinese communities."

Chan said people with good ideas and business plans can send him an email at cqmiza@gmail.com

The Standard Bank building in Church Street.