De Witts make further investment in Kenton
AFTER six years of living in Kenton-on-Sea, working at growing and improving their businesses at Kenton Garage, Eugene and Ruleen de Witt’s confidence in the town’s economic growth and its future sees them make a further investment.
During the De Witt’s tenure, the filling station they purchased in 2010 has grown its offering to include a wide range of products and services that have enhanced the shopping experience for Kentonites and visitors alike.
The supermarket, carwash, take-away and mechanical workshop have, in the last seven years, become a hub visited by many, offering from batteries and tyres, to household goods, groceries and more.
Staff are always on hand to satisfy the needs of customers with the supermarket and take-away open 365 days of the year.
The Kenton Garage take-away has become a household word for those wanting a quick, freshly prepared take-away meal. The fish and chips still remain a point of conversation for many visitors from as far as Gauteng (and even from London).
The new baby in the stable for the De Witts is the acquisition of the building and businesses next to the garage.
In this new investment, the Volo Pub and V-Slots become part of their portfolio, which further includes the completely new Continental Restaurant and Deli, a 38-seater restaurant with an extensive a la carte menu complemented by a deli catering to the tastes of the foodies out there. It is also the place where you can shop after hours for ingredients that aren’t regularly available in Kenton.
Its menu also caters for a range of tastes including vegetarian, as well as a wine list to suit every pocket.
This additional investment lifts the De Witts financial commitment in Kenton-on-Sea to more than R11-million, with a job creation total of 43 staff. Looking back to 2010 when the De Witts bought the garage, there were only four permanent staff employed, with a supplement of casual staff to cope with seasonal work.
“But it’s not just about employment,” Eugene said. “We reinvest in the town and support charities such as Rotary, Round Table, the Bowls Club, the soup kitchen and many others.”
Eugene is also president of the Business Chamber, which includes tourism, another important factor for the De Witts.
“We believe in Kenton-on-Sea,” he said. “We need to invest if we are to grow the town and improve the lives of those living here.”
It is safe to say the De Witts are here to make a difference and are in it for the long haul. They are hard at work in developing the Continental Restaurant and Deli, but are still very much active on a daily basis in all their business interests at the Kenton Garage hub.