Buco Somerset West has grown from humble beginnings as the hardware store of W Miller.
It was founded by Wolf Miller in 1902 on his arrival from Latvia; he chose to open his first venture, a bicycle shop in Fagan Street. Soon afterwards he moved shop and established a general dealer’s store just up the road.
As was customary in those days, he lived next to the shop and married Mary Efroiken in 1904. In addition to running his business, Wolf served as president of the local chamber of commerce and was a member of the local school committee. He was also instrumental in forming the Somerset West Hebrew Congregation, of which he was president for a number of years.
His son Isy, who joined the family business in 1934, showed more interest in nail paint and flooring boards than sugar, rice and trousers. As a result of this the store relocated to the opposite side of Fagan Street in 1937, and its sales emphasis shifted to building materials. Isy took the reins over after his father’s death in 1957.
In 1983, W Miller relocated to its current premises in Victoria Street, Somerset West. It was taken over by JSE-listed company Boumat in 1990 and started trading as Builder’s Market before Corpgro took control in 1997 and restored the name to W Miller.
Operations were later taken over by Campwell Hardware, which brought on another name change, this time to Campwell Hardware Somerset West. This name changed again when Campwell changed its name to Buco, a name that proudly stands today.
