For almost sixty years, Mr Mozzie’s has been an integral part of Durban's life, a place where generations of families bought groceries, formed traditions, and created memories. Now, the iconic building has been sold for 11 million rand, and the familiar corner has fallen silent.
To the residents of Durban, Mr Mozzie’s represented more than just a place to buy meat; it was a familiar landmark, a center of tradition, friendship, delicious food, and shared memories. After nearly six decades of operating on the corner of Sandile Thusi Road (formerly Argyle Road) and Mathews Meyiwa Road (formerly Stamford Hill Road), the doors of this iconic butcher shop have closed forever.
For the family behind the business, as well as for numerous loyal customers, the closure of the physical store marks the end of an important chapter. However, the name Mr Mozzie’s itself will not disappear.
The building, which became synonymous with Mr Mozzie’s, was sold at an auction held by Galetti Auction House this week for the sum of 11 million rand. The property generated significant interest before being sold above the reserve price.
Galetti CEO, Wesley Cowan, assured the public that the sale does not mean the end of the Mr Mozzie’s legacy. He noted that the legacy will live on through partnerships with various retailers, and the address at 143 Mathews Meyiwa Road will always remain a testament to the community it served for many decades.
The auction house declined to disclose the buyer's identity, stating only that the property was acquired by a private client.
For Mr Mozzie’s director, Warwick Rebeck, this sale holds deep personal significance. Rebeck is the son-in-law of Marcel Waters, affectionately known as 'Mr Mozzie,' the original owner of the business.
Rebeck shared that watching the building go up for auction was a 'strangely odd feeling.' The building had been in the family since 1968, when Waters acquired it along with the then-operating business—Argyle Butchery.
Marcel Waters brought his own entrepreneurial and creative potential to the business, transforming a small butcher shop into the iconic Mr Mozzie’s Smoke House. Since he grew up in Europe, he introduced Durban to smoked delicacies popular there.
Over time, the business became much more than just a place to buy groceries; it became woven into the fabric of the local community, and generations of Durban families grew up knowing the familiar name Mr Mozzie’s. This small butcher shop turned into a local landmark.
For Rebeck and his family, witnessing the sale of the property was inevitably emotional. He stated that the sale of the building marks the end of an era for both the family and all their loyal customers.
The decision to hold an auction was made after receiving a large number of bids from potential buyers. Rebeck reported that the family initially placed two 'for sale' signs to gauge interest. The response was so strong that they decided the sale should be conducted professionally, using an auction process to settle the interests of multiple parties.
The family welcomed the final price of 11 million rand. Rebeck added that the result was not entirely unexpected, as the family had previously received written offers approaching this value before opting for the auction route.
Although the iconic shop has disappeared, the brand continues to exist. Rebeck mentioned that the family had sought buyers for the business itself, especially because none of his immediate relatives wished to take over the venture. He worked with Mr Mozzie’s for nearly 30 years and owned it for over 20 years.
However, the business was complex as it combined retail stores with a production facility. Eventually, an opportunity arose with Dargle Valley Meats, which expressed interest in purchasing the wholesale production aspect of the business. This part accounted for over 90% of the factory's output.
Rebeck emphasized that Dargle Valley Meats is prepared to maintain the quality of the Mr Mozzie’s brand and possesses the necessary skills, experience, and passion to continue supplying existing wholesale and supermarket clients, including Checkers, Spar, and Food Lovers Markets in KwaZulu-Natal. Critical equipment was also installed at the Dargle Valley Meats factory in Midlands. Rebeck is currently overseeing the entire handover process to ensure that the Mr Mozzie’s range continues to be produced at the same high standard, and even improved. He will continue to oversee the production of this range in the future.
There are currently no plans to open another retail store. The Mr Mozzie’s brand will be available through supermarkets. Rebeck does not rule out the possibility of a retail outlet in the future. He stated: 'Currently, the Mr Mozzie’s brand will be available in all the aforementioned supermarkets, and there are no plans for a retail store, but you can never say never!'
Managing the business for nearly half a century taught the family lessons that went far beyond selling products. Rebeck noted that it taught them the value of personalized customer service, the importance of caring for employees, and the necessity of consistently producing products that exceed expectations. It also taught them the satisfaction of creating new products that become customer favorites. And perhaps most importantly, that well-executed simple things allow a business to last a very long time.
These principles helped the family build a business that could withstand competition.
The physical Mr Mozzie’s shop may no longer stand as a Durban landmark, but Rebeck believes its legacy will endure. He noted that many will miss the personalized experience of the charming shop. Nevertheless, the smoked delicacies that made the name famous remain available to customers through supermarkets.
Cowan supported this view, noting that the property at 143 Mathews Meyiwa Road will remain a monument to the community it served for so many decades. Thus, for the family, the story is not just about selling a building, but about a business that became part of the lives of the people it served.
After almost 60 years, Rebeck extended his gratitude to thousands of Durban customers who supported the family. He called it a privilege to serve the residents of Durban over many years—both through retail stores in Windermere and La Lucia Mall, and through the supermarkets that continue to supply the business. He added: 'We see our place in the community as mutually beneficial and are deeply grateful that it lasted so long and will continue for a long time to come.'
The familiar corner may now belong to someone else, and the doors of the original Mr Mozzie’s are closed. But for the families who grew up with this name, the memories and the taste of its smoked delicacies remain.