In the centre of the village at 31 Main Street are a handful of heritage commercial buildings designed and occupied mainly for shopkeeping endeavours.
Reykneke’s General Store
Firstly and on the southern side of Main Street is a large rectangular shop with a gable roof that stretches to the corner, which is currently occupied by Wykland Properties.
It was a general dealer store owned by Mr. Reyneke in the mid 1900s. The wraparound S-shaped curved roof along the frontage provided the perfect invitation and framing to display newspapers and other goods on sale.
Village Butchery
The building on the opposite side of Main Street is featured next.
This property of the 1800s architectural era was originally a home before it was converted in the 1900s into a typical early-style commercial building designed to house two separate shops on each side. Over time, various shops and dealers occupied the space, including a draper (cloth and fabrics dealer), a butchery, and a fishery.
The building features a street-facing stoep very close to Main Street, as well as old exterior stairs on the side leading up to the attic space used for storage. Compared to residential buildings from a similar period, the width of the doorway is slightly larger; a giveaway of its commercial intent.
Christiaansen’s Home
On the same side and a few paces up Main Street is the original home of the Christiaansens.
This is a small residential home of the late 1800s period, which is somewhat oddly positioned today given its location in the centre of the village. Notice the narrower doors than the neighbouring commercial properties.
The Christiaansens owned and lived in this home during the 1900s. An interesting but poignant story is that Mrs. Christiaansen was murdered inside this home under mysterious circumstances, which also happens to be the first recorded case of murder in Riebeek Kasteel’s history.
Reyneke’s Drankwinkel
Continuing up Main Street, the next property was the village bottle store: Reyneke’s Drankwinkel.
Mr Reyneke owned this property from the mid 1900s where he ran a locally renowned bottle store. Currently home to a restaurant joined to the Royal Hotel, the building’s interior still features the refrigerator room and some of the original cabinetry that was part of Reyneke’s bottle store.
Your Next Destination
Continuing up Main Street, the next destination is directly after Reyneke’s Drankwinkel: The Royal Hotel.
