In the late 1920s two entrepreneurs opened a shop on the wrong side of Johannesburg's retail district. The shop was located on Eloff Street, a block south of Pritchard Street. At the time it was generally accepted that to succeed in the retail trade your premises would have to be located in a portion of Eloff Street four blocks long north of Pritchard Street. Critics, competitors and commentators predicted their rapid demise but this was not to be. Below is an article from The Sunday Star (October 1986) giving an overview of the origins and success of OK Bazaars. Regarding the title… you’ll have to read until the end (it involves a certain I.W. Schlesinger)!
"…but in 1927 there opened, also in Eloff Street, the OK Bazaars. The OK was founded by a violinist turned shopkeeper, Sam Cohen, and a hairdresser turned commercial traveller, Michael Miller. Miller was born in Lithuania in 1893 and moved to Britain at the age of three with his parents. He left school to start work at the age of 13 and, when he was about 17, came to South Africa where he became a hairdresser. He eventually sold out his half-share in the small business for £25 and became a commercial traveller.
Sam Cohen was born in London in 1894, immigrating to South Africa with his parents just before the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. He left school early and was a violinist when he met Dora Miller, Micheal’s sister. After their marriage Cohen joined his father’s business, consisting...
