The story of Brenchie begins when, following the passing of his parents, he decided to take charge of his family and was not willing to divide his siblings. He approached his cousin Bibi Arends for a loan of 500 florins, which was a substantial sum at the time, to start a business.Initially, this venture sold various edibles made by his own which then grew to source food and goods from Willemstad, Curaçao, which had a much larger harbor at the time. This store was located on the first floor of El Castillo, which was his cousin Bibi’s house on Wilhelminastraat, not far from the family home of Lorenzo Justianiano Arends, at the corner of van Walbeeckstraat and Ooststraat. This was a favorable time to start a business as, in the same period around 1924, the Lago refinery was established in Aruba. This led to decades of continuous economic growth and an abundance of employment opportunities in Aruba and the region, marking a recovery from the less fruitful era due to the First World War which had caused a scarcity of chemicals and materials needed for mining.

The optimism prevailing in Aruba and the stability brought by the oil industry meant that in a relatively short time, Brenchie’s business prospered and moved three times to larger premises. From the original San Nicolas Store, established in 1921, it moved to a new space at Wilhelminastraat 57, where the business expanded to include a wider range of products such as food, drinks, perfumes, and tools. The store was attractive and tastefully designed, reflecting the optimism of the time before the Second World War, and the attention to detail that had come to characterize the Arends family. Oranjestad at that time was filled with a diverse and joyful community that developed and benefited from the economic growth, elevating cultural life to levels not seen before. Thus, B.J. Arends (Brenchie) positioned himself among the greats of commerce like Nadi Henriquez and Adriaan Lacle.

Over time, in 1963, Brenchie decided to hand over the management of the business to his children. At that point, the business consisted of several hardware stores in Oranjestad, San Nicolas, and a number of other properties. With the entrepreneurial spirit of his children, the business continued to grow, incorporating more stores such as a home center and the hardware store in Ponton. The shift in the area of tourism and focus on other parts of the island led many merchants to establish themselves elsewhere. Few old businesses persevered against the rush for modernism and the need for more spacious and accessible spaces. This made the preservation of this commercial heritage a necessity for today’s Oranjestad. The following decades were ones of tranquility and reflection.

In 1990, Brenchie passed away at the age of eighty-seven, closing the final chapter of his life. His life can be considered historic and symbolic of the development of Oranjestad and commerce in the twentieth century. He left behind a legacy of integrity, entrepreneurial skill, perseverance, and remarkable dedication to our community. A young man who, despite facing difficult times, persevered and became an exemplary figure. An institution in Oranjestad, a silent pioneer, a life that is embodied in the walls of the building at Wilhelminastraat 59.