TAVERN OWNER PROFILE

Jackey Stood the “Test of Time”, NOW HE’S READY FOR BIGGER CHALLENGES

Growing up, Jacob “Jackey” Chiloane never thought he could ever become a businessman, let alone a tavern owner! But Jackey not only became a very successful tavern owner, he now has his sights set on even bigger challenges.

It all began with Jackey’s passion to play pool. His love for the game saw him reach professional levels where he won several awards playing for the

Soweto Cue Masters Pool Club. He also dropped out of technical college twice because of his love of the table. He first studied Civil Engineering but before he could complete it, he dropped out and went to study Motor Mechanics which he didn’t complete either. At this time his focus and passion was only on pool. Jackey says he started out by hiring a pool table to play with his team at his house. It was during this time that his friend suggested that he sell cigarettes to people coming to play and watch the game. Selling cigarettes was not something that he wanted to do but he considered it anyway. “The event which I can say changed my entire life and made me who I am today, was when one of my friends asked me to buy a case of beers and sell them to him only during our games. I refused but he insisted and being my friend I couldn’t let him down.”

“That was how I started selling beers.

More and more customers came in and the business naturally grew.”

Jackey says when he looks back he can’t believe that he started the business buying less than three cases of beer from a local bottle store. Today his business has grown into an empire that also boasts a fast food restaurant and an entertainment company co-ordinating events and promoting young upcoming local artists.

A customer is being served a meal at JC’s Fast Food.

Jackey receives weekly deliveries from SAB and Brandhouse of significant amounts of stock. “In a week I buy more than 200 cases of beers, that’s how much my business has grown”, he says. JC’s Place does not just operate as a tavern it also operates as a bottle store servicing not only individual customers but also bulk buyers such as local shebeens in Soweto. He says now he needs bigger challenges and his next project is to apply for a license that will allow him to do distribution. Jackey admits that he is always thinking of how he can grow his business and tries to find other avenues to expand. “I have been running this business for more than 10-years now and I have been through many challenges — but I’ve stood the test of time. This business has taught me a lot of things and one of those things is to never trust anyone.” One of Jackey’s biggest mistakes was to trust his workers, whom he later discovered had betrayed him by stealing from him, which almost saw him lose everything. “At the time, the business was doing well but I just didn’t see the money. I don’t know what they were doing, perhaps they were selling into their pockets or giving free beers to their friends, but things changed after I installed security cameras.” Jackey now has five employees helping him in both the fast food restaurant and in the tavern. He describes himself as a music lover and an active and loving person, who hates to see other people suffering. “I’m not greedy. I always want to help other people but I will never give money. Instead I can give you a job to do and pay you after. I believe people have to earn money.” Jackey expresses concerns on the way the Liquor Board wants to regulate the industry saying it would be difficult to operate his business and as the result many people might lose their jobs. In his opinion the current liquor regulations and by-laws such as trading hours, favour retail businesses in shopping malls and not the tavern owners. “The problem is that these people who formulate these laws don’t understand the nature of our businesses and they don’t know the kind of environment in which we operate. I suggest they conduct research into the industry before coming up with their regulations.” Jackey says JC’s Place is for everyone. “People don’t only come here to drink, they come to socialise and play games such as chess as well. I operate in line with my liquor license’s conditions, I don’t play loud music and when it’s time to close, I close whether the tavern is packed or not. I have respect and I don’t want to fight with my neighbours.” Jackey’s tavern, which is called JC’s Place is in Diepkloof Extension 3.

SAB delivering bulk stock at JC’s Place.