Stellenbosch University’s Neelsie student centre was recently renovated, with multiple new stores having opened and some still under construction.
This is according to Gary Howell, manager of the letting office at the Neelsie student centre.
Sweetbeet opened their store in the Neelsie student centre in June, in the space where Candy Store was previously. The store offers bowls, burritos, salads, toasts and smoothies, with a wide variety of vegan and vegetarian options, according to their website. PHOTO: Cody Hansen
Old and new
Sweetbeet, Jack’s Bagels and Sausage Saloon have all opened their doors at the Neelsie, while Crumbs & Cream will be opening soon, stated Howell.
MyBrew Coffee opened a new and larger shop and has further plans for expansion, said Howell.
Moody Blue is a new restaurant still under construction, according to Howell.
“The Neelsie is constantly reviewing and refreshing its tenant offering and composition,” said Howell, via written correspondence with MatieMedia. There are plans and advanced negotiations for more new stores to be added this year, but these are yet to be finalised, said Howell.
MyBrew Coffee has been at the Neelsie student centre for a number of years and recently opened a new and larger shop in addition to their kiosk, which stands just outside the new store. PHOTO: Cody Hansen
Behind the counter
“The Neelsie management, for quite some time, looked for an opportunity to uplift a little bit, because I think the Neelsie was just in need of some new merchants,” said Michael Israel, owner of Candy Store, which has been part of the Neelsie since 1999.
Candy Store was originally named ‘Amaboko’ and was recently moved from where Sweetbeet is now located to a newly renovated shop next to the Neelsie cinema, said Israel.
Candy Store, which was previously named ‘Amaboko’, is now located next to the Neelsie cinema in the Neelsie student centre. The store underwent a complete renovation and the project should be finished in the next week, said Michael Israel, owner of Candy Store. PHOTO: Cody Hansen
“There was a lovely shop available, so I decided to completely re-do the sweet shop and reset it in that space and call it Candy Store,” said Israel.
The move has not been without its difficulties, said Israel, but he expects to have the project finished in the next week. The store is expecting to bring in a carbonated ice slush machine, as well as a popcorn machine, he added.
Sausage Saloon opened on 20 July on the bottom floor of the Neelsie student centre, in the corner of the food court. The store offers a variety of hot dogs, while also offering hot chips, corn dogs and burgers, according to their website. PHOTO: Cody Hansen
Business is booming
Jack’s Bagels, one of the new stores at the Neelsie, is located next to Standard Bank on the bottom floor.
“We have a store in Dorp Street and about 90% of our customers are students,” said Mynhardt van Zyl, who owns both of the Jack’s Bagels stores in Stellenbosch alongside his wife, Lize-Mare. “They [students] kept saying that it’s too far a walk for them.”
Jack’s Bagels recently opened next to Standard Bank on the bottom floor of the Neelsie student centre, according to Gary Howell, manager of the letting office at the Neelsie. The store offers a variety of sweet and savoury bagels, as well as coffee and juices. PHOTO: Cody Hansen
For months, the owners had been receiving requests from customers to move to the Neelsie, which motivated the opening of the new store, he said.
Van Zyl is very pleased with business so far, he stated.
“There’s no way to describe it. It’s freaky how busy it is,” he said. “It’s amazing. We feel very lucky to be here.”