After months of back and forth, organisers of the popular Dorp Street Sunday Market have announced it will return this Sunday (25 January).
The popular market’s return comes after it was closed by Stellenbosch Municipality, despite it being a hub with more than 80 vendors and plenty of visitors on Sundays.
In November 2024, the municipality explained the market did not meet the necessary municipal bylaws. At the time it cited the unsuitability of the street as a trading area, lack of parking and consideration for other road users, among other reasons.
“Over the past year we did research and regularly followed up with council members, members of the public as well as municipal departments,” said the market’s Leani Breedt. “In December we met with mayor Jeremy Fasser, who expressed his support for re-opening the market and set a date.”
Breedt and Danneel Stone, owner of the Adam & Eve Collab, are the co-founders of the market, which they established after the Covid lockdown in 2020.
Breedt said the team, including the vendors, are excited about the market’s re-opening this weekend.
“The vendors have been extremely supportive and can’t wait to see their regular clients again. Unfortunately, not all the vendors will be joining us immediately, but around 60% of the original vendors will rejoin the market on a rotational basis.”
At the time of its closing the market offered more than vendors a weekly trading space.
Following the initial closing, a pop-up market was held in the Casa Cerveza courtyard. Later, the Market in the Stellenbosch Gardens was established in the botanical gardens on Saturdays.
Now, with the necessary municipal events guidelines in place, the market is good to go. Breedt said much of the original Dorp Street Sunday Market’s format will remain in place.
“The market retains it special, joyous atmosphere where, in partnership with local businesses, we provide a space for entrepreneurs and small businesses to showcase their products,” she said.
“Visitors can continue to show appreciation for unique products and enjoy a wonderful day out together with friends and family at local restaurants and shops in Dorp Street as well as the rest of Stellenbosch town.”
READ MORE: Mark in Dorpstraat moet nou sluit
About the return of the market Stellenbosch municipal spokesperson Stuart Grobbelaar said: “The municipality received an application for this event and we are handling it as per our processes, and engaging with the organisers.”
Breedt said would-be vendors had been placed on a database for when the market was back up and running. “This means there is excitement about brand new exhibitors and artists being showcased. New activities and collaborations lie ahead thanks to the local-business visits we conduct weekly, particularly businesses such as Casa Cerveza.”
The Dorp Street Sunday Market will be a weekly market and is the perfect way to combat the Sunday “scaries”.
You must be logged in to post a comment.