Before the days of supermarkets and shopping malls there were general dealers. Take a step back in time at Oom Samie se Winkel where you can leave the modern world behind and experience a sense of nostalgia in this living museum full of the character and charm of a Victorian-era general dealer.
Oom Samie se Winkel, meaning "Uncle Sammy’s Shop", is a family run business that offers the same personalised services and goods of yesteryear. Located in the heart of Stellenbosch on the historic oak lined Dorp Street, it has been a Stellenbosch institution since 1904 and is now also a national monument, offering all sorts of bric and brac and delightful foods and products where you can browse at your leisure.
Offering an eclectic mix of goods for purchase, Oom Samie se Winkel is a must-see stop on any visitor’s itinerary. As you step through the door, the aromatic atmosphere will transport you to a bygone era with scents of dry goods, preserves and spices. Favourite items in stock include sticky toffee, traditional South African biltong (a dried spice meat similar to jerky) and droëwors, boiled sweets, and authentic old turn-of-the-century butter churns. You will also find rare antiques, books, handcrafted straw brooms, clothing, fruit and vegetables. An added bonus, Oom Samie se Winkel specialises in exceptional vintages and unusual releases of the wine producing area of Stellenbosch. Here you can purchase wine to suit your palate, or a special gift that can be shipped to destinations across the globe.
After exploring this historical gem, enjoy a light meal at the Koffiehuis, adjacent to Oom Samie’s or relax on the veranda and people watch.
The History of Oom Samie se Winkel
Trading on the same premises for more than 100 years, Oom Samie se Winkel has a rich history.
The land on which it stands today was bought for £1,000 on the 19th of May 1904 by the Volsteedt family for their son, Samuel Johannes Volsteedt - the man who later became known and loved as 'Oom Samie'.
Oom Samie lived and worked there, serving the town of Stellenbosch with everything they needed until his death in 1944. He never married, but was a friend to all. Despite passing his business to his nephew, the shop is still known as Oom Samie se Winkel today.
A testament to Oom Samie’s gentle and caring nature remains enshrined to this day in the Stellenbosch cemetery, where the inscription on his headstone reads: 'He was a good man'. - Acts 11, Verse 24.
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Location:
84 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch, 7600
Business Hours:
Monday - Friday: 08:30 - 17:30
Weekends and Public Holidays: 0900 - 17:00
Tel: 021 887 2372/021 8870797
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