Johnny's Fruit Market

General information

A lifetime of service

Johnny’s Fruit Market has been in business for longer than 20 years. It is still in the same place where everything started. Find us in Second Avenue, Westdene, Bloemfontein.

Where did it all start?

In the early 1960s, Costa Tyrannis (father of brothers Johnny and Simon Tyrannis) arrived in South Africa and opened shop in Hanger Street, Bloemfontein. He called his shop the Brazilian Tearoom and it was well-known for its mixed grills, but also fresh fruit and vegetables, with a little extra general groceries on the side. The Brazilian Tearoom was in business for 18 years.

In the meantime his two sons were born and the family moved back to Greece for a few years.

Upon their return to South Africa, Costa opened Costa’s Supermarket first in Koffiefontein, then in Brandfort, but eventually sold it to join and help his son Johnny open Johnny’s Fruit Market in the early 1990s in Bloemfontein.

When Costa passed away in 2009, his younger son Simon sold his own business (the Futurkids franchise) and joined his brother at Johnny’s Fruit Market. Simon eventually took over the business, rebranded it and created a fresh new look. Under his management the wholesale business has grown tremendously. They supply most coffee shops, restaurants, schools, smaller shops, chain stores, hospitals, government departments, caterers, guest houses, hotels, take-aways and pizzerias in Bloemfontein with their fresh produce.

Since its rebranding Johnny’s Fruit Market has won the Best of Bloemfontein/Courant readers’ choice awards for the best green grocer in town THREE times in a row!

You will find Simon on the floor of the shop greeting and helping customers every day which gives Johnny’s Fruit Market that friendly and personal touch that clients love.

What do we sell?

Johnny’s Fruit Market specialises in the sale of Fruit and Vegetables – from baskets to truck loads full. They have daily specials and clients often find that they walk in for a few things, but leave with a trolley full of quality fresh produce.

Johnny’s Fruit Market also sources specific products for clients such as ripe strawberries, guavas, okra and artichokes when in season, as well as makataan (wild melon) and ripe apricots for making jams.