In 1992 co-owners Tim Jones and Brian Graham planted trees at Uncle Tim’s Centre.
Twenty-eight years later, the trees have grown to become independent and the duo have set off on a new adventure to plant new trees.
The centre, which is situated on High Road, underwent new ownership in 2016 when the duo decided to scale down and become tenants in the centre so they could focus solely on their antique collection and trading at their Uncle Tim’s Cabin stall.
Then, Uncle Tim found a cabin – literally – at The Green Thumb Nursery on O’Reilly Merry Street.
In no time, the co-founders fell in love with the wooden beauty that now houses their antiques.
“There is an authentic feeling to the cabin and the atmosphere complements the name – Uncle Tim’s Cabin,” Graham explained.
“I have planted 11 trees and we have started another garden.”
Proudly vegan, Graham said this new-found home complements their lifestyle.
“The restaurant here is vegan-friendly and we have some knowledge in veganism so where we can assist, we will,” he said.
“We are both vegan and are passionate about saving the planet.”
They are also in the process of building for more space and are considering an inclusion of a gift range to complement their antiques.
But as Jones said: “We will take the future one day at a time.”
Jones and Graham who are both collectors of antiques met in the UK and decided to make Benoni their home.
“We started trading in 1987 at the Benoni Plaza,” Graham explained.
“At the time it was called Now and Then.”
Their trading at the plaza encouraged them to open the Uncle Tim’s Centre.
“I loved antiques from young. I used to even hunt for fossils as a child,” Jones said.
Graham said since their move to Benoni, they have made countless friends and are well-known in the town.
Although they have changed premises, Jones said he will still host furniture restoration workshops.
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