A piece of Stellenbosch history now has a place in the weekly grocery shop, with Checkers incorporating the town’s historic Mill Stream into the design of its revamped Mill Street supermarket.
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Known locally as the Meulsloot, the stream runs through the store as a reminder of the site’s past. One of South Africa’s oldest engineered gravity-fed water furrows, it was constructed shortly after Stellenbosch was founded in 1679, bringing water from the Eerste River for drinking, farming and powering wheat mills.
The Checkers store stands on the site of the town’s third mill, which was demolished in 1963.
The Mill Stream was declared a Provincial Heritage Site in 1973, and its inclusion in the revamped supermarket offers shoppers a visible connection to that history.
The feature has already attracted attention on social media, with one shopper commenting that he had momentarily forgotten he was in a grocery store, while others highlighted the significance of preserving the historic waterway.
“We wanted to create a modern shopping experience while acknowledging the history of this site and its place in Stellenbosch." says Willem Hunlun, chief operating officer of Checkers.
"The Mill Stream is an important part of the town’s story, and incorporating it into the design allows customers to experience that heritage as part of their everyday shopping.”
More than a fresh look
Alongside the heritage feature, the redevelopment has upgraded the store’s fresh food offering and in-store services. Shoppers can browse the butchery, hot and cold foods deli, bakery, fresh produce section and wine cellar, as well as a Starbucks, Lindt shop-in-shop and Money Market counter.
The project has also created 142 new jobs, bringing the store’s total complement to 272 and adding to employment opportunities in the local community.
Growing talent in-store
The store is managed by Shaun Adams, who joined Checkers in 2009 through its Retail Readiness Programme. After progressing through several roles, including branch manager at Checkers Franschhoek, he took up his current position in 2023.
His team includes employees at different stages of their careers, with the retailer highlighting internal development as part of the store’s story.
Asenathi Sitwayi, for example, progressed from till packer to cashier and is now a trainee manager in just over a year. Cashier Skumbuzo Ngwendu recently celebrated 10 years with the business, while groceries general assistant Leston Pietersen marked 20 years.
The redevelopment also includes an upgraded LiquorShop, Medirite Plus pharmacy and Petshop Science store.
