The popular Laughtons Hardware store on Sea Point’s Main Road has closed after 104 years, and a supermarket will replace it, according to a notification from the City of Cape Town.
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The development application notice states that the erven (428, 429, 1323, and 437) at 291, 293, 295, and 299 Main Road includes an on-street loading bay. The proposed plans by Tommy Brummer Town Planners indicate that the existing building has a floor space of 1,970m².
‘Our application was made to consolidate the properties, cede a portion of the road reserve to the City, and obtain a departure for the loading requirements as no on-site parking is available.
‘The application for consolidation was made because the existing operations straddle four property boundaries, which would not allow any future tenants to use the entire building as Laughtons currently does,’ read a statement from the town planner.
The Sea Point Fresnaye Bantry Bay Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (SFB) received documentation outlining the scope of the development.
‘What is being proposed is relatively modest and low-impact. We therefore decided not to object to the proposal,’ said Gordon Metz, a member of the SFB planning committee.
Owner Trevor Laughton said he would comment later. The store is still trading online. Laughtons’ LinkedIn page describes the hardware, plumbing, and heating equipment supplier as ‘part of Sea Point’s fabric.’
‘Since our founding in 1920, Laughtons Hardware has been a staple in Sea Point, evolving into the go-to resource for contractors and DIY enthusiasts.’
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Picture: Laughtons Hardware / Gallo Images