In our previous post, ‘Average is over, we hope we return to something better’ we spoke of the almost temple-like qualities of book and music stores. In the absence of family visits and long meals in restaurants, this type of community is more important than ever. Our beloved music store, Mr Vinyl will be open again but as we spoke about records last time, this is an ode to book shops and the books they sell. More specifically our book shops and books sold in the centre.
L’Elephant Terrible was one of the first stores to open in 44 Stanley years ago when Brian transformed a few abandoned buildings on the wrong side of Empire Road. Its founder Wolf Weinek, fell in love with the vision of a space with unique shops in an island of sanity in Johannesburg
Wolf Weinek, Paul Stopforth and Michael Goldberg
This was by no means his first time selling books.
He started selling books at the Johannesburg flea market some years after starting the flea market as means for the Market Theatre to generate more income during the stifling Apartheid years.
Wolf, with fellow artists Paul Stopforth and Michael Goldberg, had created the Market Gallery, an iconic gallery that supported the careers of artists such as Brett Murray, David Goldblatt, Matsamela Manaka, Lucas Seage and William Kentridge.
Wolf was an artist and teacher and volunteered his time at the Market Theatre and eventually turned his passion for books and art into a business with the beautiful bookshop at the Market Theatre in 1987. Years later he moved to Melville and the 44 Stanley store then opened as a second branch.
The store was always about family, in fact Wolf named it after a trip to the zoo with his grandson, Thomas.
Gundi, Wolf’s wife combined her energies with Wolf by curating the shop with her love of fine art and books. When Wolf died in 2011, Gundi continued the tradition of this shop filled with art and fine books and it is she that most of us know and love.
It continues to be a family business and during this time Gundi’s daughter, Cati and granddaughter Lily have helped her in the bookshop.
The younger generations have started an instagram account @terrible.elephant and we’re so enjoying the unusual gems they’re sharing on the account.
Although small, the store contains thousands of books that are focused on our African continent, whether it is fine art, plants, history, biographies or literature.
There are stacks of novels you’ve always meant to read, obscure cookbooks, hard-to-find first editions and beautiful coffee table books. You’ll want to set some time aside to browse.
A family pic.
In the absence of travel, go and visit, browse, escape, enjoy and let us know what you find.
