EAST LONDON— A Mdantsane-born entrepreneur has transformed a lifelong dream into an inspiring success story. Thandulwazi Thomas(47) founder of House 87, a cultural food and lifestyle venue in East London has been awarded R40,000 at the recent prestigious Bambelela Business Awards, marking a significant milestone for the rising local brand.
From its humble beginnings as a food trailer in 2015, House 87 has evolved into a vibrant destination where heritage, cuisine and music intersect. Located at a formerly student-occupied property in suburb of East London, Quigney the venue was reimagined and relaunched in 2022 as a three-star graded space, now regarded as a cultural gem in the Eastern Cape.
The name ’87’ stems from its street address but for Thomas it has come to represent much more a symbol of transformation, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.
In an exclusive interview with Eastern Cape Daily News Thomas emphasized that, he left behind a corporate career spanning more than 17 years to pursue his vision. Armed with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Pedagogy from Stellenbosch University, he returned to his roots with the goal of building a space that celebrates African identity and community through food, art and music.
“It feels incredible not just as recognition, but as a reminder that the hard work, sacrifice and passion we’ve poured into House 87 is being noticed,” Thomas said following the award announcement.
The award comes at a critical time. On 3rd May 2025, House 87 suffered a break-in that led to the loss of assets valued at over R100,000. Thomas said the award funding will help recover some of those losses and bolster the restaurant’s security.
Furthermore he added that, “This intervention gives us a chance to recover some of the fixed assets we lost and also to strengthen our security going forward.
Despite facing significant hurdles from limited funding and infrastructure challenges to earning trust among suppliers and customers Thomas and his team have pushed through with lean operations, community partnerships and a culture-first approach.
In addition collaborations with local artists and reinvestment into the business have been key to their steady growth.The R40,000 boost will now go toward upgrading equipment, improving operational systems and expanding the venue’s event capacity.
Future plans include the introduction of wine specials, curated cultural experiences and a residency programme for local musicians all aimed at solidifying House 87’s status as one of East London’s most dynamic lifestyle destinations.
As House 87 moves forward, it continues to stand as a beacon of what’s possible when vision meets perseverance a true testament to the entrepreneurial spirit thriving in the Eastern Cape.
Please do visit them at East London, Quigney and find them on Facebook: House 87, Quigney, East London.
