16/06/2026
Article by David Batzofin
Recently, friends, family, customers, suppliers, and countless people whose lives had been touched by Orejen gathered to bid a fond farewell to Mannie and Jen.
It was not a sombre occasion, nor was it intended to be. Instead, it was a celebration of two lives that had been lived fully, generously, and with an unwavering commitment to friendship, community, and kindness. The stories flowed as freely as the memories.
Laughter punctuated the tears, and tears occasionally interrupted the laughter. It was exactly the kind of gathering that both Mannie and Jen would have approved of. There was no sense of finality in the air. Instead, there was gratitude. Gratitude for having known them, worked with them, laughed with them, and, in many cases, become lifelong friends through the simple act of walking through the doors of Orejen. Because that was the magic of the place. People arrived as customers and somehow left as family. Almost without exception, anyone who purchased so much as a bolt or a bracket soon found themselves drawn into conversation. Before long, they would know Jen's infectious laugh,Mannie's quiet wisdom, and the unique atmosphere that transformed this one-of-a-kind store into something far more meaningful. Orejen sold products, certainly, but it's real stock-in-trade was human connection.
And if you think that Mannie and Jen have somehow left Orejen, think again. In a fitting tribute to a couple who spent so much of their lives rooted in the business they loved, their ashes now rest together beneath a Wild Plum tree (also known as a Cherry/ Red Stinkwood) planted on the property by the new owners. There, sheltered among the tree roots, they remain exactly where they would probably choose to be—at Orejen, surrounded by the people and community that meant so much to them. Planted in the same soil are two steel roses, lovingly crafted by Dirk Venter. Strong, enduring and beautifully simple, they seem entirely appropriate. Unlike fresh flowers that fade with time, these roses will remain as a permanent reminder of a friendship that never rusted and a legacy that refuses to be forgotten. Customers old and new will continue to support Orejen. Some will come looking for an item for their homes, others for advice, and many simply because it has always been part of their lives. Most may never know the full story of the remarkable couple who built its reputation, but they will undoubtedly feel their presence in the culture and spirit that remain.
Of course, there will be changes. Every new chapter brings fresh ideas, new energy, and different ways of doing things. Ken and Leila, the new custodians of Orejen will undoubtedly leave their own mark on the business, as they should.
But what matters most is that the heart of Orejen remains intact. The essence of this shop cannot be measured in shelves, stock, or square metres. It lives in the relationships that were built over decades. It lives in the stories still being told. It lives in the smiles exchanged across the counter. It lives in every customer who became a friend. And perhaps most of all, it lives in the memory of Jen's smile and that unmistakable laugh that could brighten even the most ordinary day. Some people leave footprints. Mannie and Jen left a community. And while their voices may no longer echo through the buildings, their spirit remains woven into the fabric of Orejen itself. Every visitor who walks through those doors becomes part of that continuing story. The legend they created does not end here. It simply turns the page.
