Doha’s version of the Cape Town corner café

‘IKNOW it’s late, but we need milk please.” I check the time. It’s 9.58pm. “No problem,” I tell Shihaam, “the shop only closes at 10.” I dash outside, hop on my bike, and cycle the 50m to the mini-supermarket in our Doha compound.

While expat life in Qatar comes with challenges – distance from home, absence of family and a different working culture, to name a few – there are many aspects of the lifestyle here that are geared towards making things easier for residents.

Compound living is one. You get what you pay for – amenities will generally include a gym, pool and clubhouse.

And very importantly, Doha’s version of the Cape Town corner café – a shop that stocks all the daily essentials – within metres of your villa.

Growing up in Cape Town, there was a café on most corners. My family owned one in Claremont during my childhood years and it’s proven to be the inspiration behind a movie being shot on location in the Mother City.

Produced by the husband-and-wife film-making team of Mehboob Bawa and Razia Rawoot, my brother and sister-inlaw, the film tells the story of a family who own a shop in Wynberg and face the challenge of gentrification when a property developer tries to force them to sell.

The battle between the community-minded shopkeeper and the ruthless tycoon is entwined with a love story between their respective daughter and son, which adds to the drama.

When getting the latest on-set news from Mehboob and Razia this week, it brought back memories of my family’s café. It was a couple of doors away from home, accessible through our backyard.

Looking back now, it could have been a scene straight out of – you’re in your house, you walk through a back door and whoosh, you’re in Diagon Alley. Or, in this case, Bawa Superette.

I remember the café being a hive of activity, with members of the community buzzing in and out at all hours. It wasn’t only a place to buy daily essentials but also a meeting spot for family and friends before, during and after hours.

Everyone just seemed to like hanging out there, although I suppose the free cooldrinks helped.

Despite the proliferation of shopping malls, franchise supermarkets and 24-hour petrol station convenience stores in Cape Town and the rest of South Africa, the corner shop seems to have endured. If you ask me, it’s because of the personal touch.

Along with your purchases, you’ll get a greeting by name and even a chance to “buy on the book”.

And, if the shop is already locked up for the night but the lights are still on, there’s a good chance “Bhai” will open up if you knock on the door.

Fortunately, as I’m about to find out, you get the same service in Doha.

“Bought the milk just in time,” I smile. “They’re locking up now.”

“Um, sorry,” replies Shihaam, “I just realised we need bread too.”