Stellenbosch’s Root44 Market and Wine Emporium has announced it will be closed until further notice, a development that hits hard for many of us in the Helderberg who had the venue on our must-visit list for the year.
I have been keeping an eye on this spot for a while now. Like many others, our household shifted to working from home after the pandemic, and we quickly realised that the dream of working in pyjamas isn’t always as rosy as it sounds. Between the school runs for our son, breakfast, and the immediate blur of work and dinner, the day often disappears before we can step outside. One of our big goals for 2026 was to finally reclaim that “work from anywhere” fantasy—actually getting out to places like Root44 to enjoy a breakfast muffin or a lemonade while working with a view of the mountains.
Unfortunately, it seems we might have missed our chance to tick this one off the list for now. According to a formal announcement from the Root44 team, the entire facility is currently closed. This follows an earlier notice from 9 June 2026, which initially stated that only the Root44 Restaurant was closing permanently while the market remained operational. However, the latest update confirms that the entire market and wine emporium have now ceased operations until further notice.
The announcement from the venue is heavy with emotion, noting that the decision was not made lightly. The management stated that jobs have been lost and many families will feel the impact of the closure. In a direct piece of reporting on the situation, the Root44 team claimed they received no support from the Stellenbosch Municipality during what they described as a difficult time.
For those who regularly made the drive from Somerset West or Strand, the loss of this hub is significant. It was exactly the kind of destination we intended to use as we expanded our local map beyond the immediate Helderberg area into Stellenbosch.
The Root44 team expressed deep gratitude to their traders, staff, and the customers who have been part of their journey. While the initial June 9th notice offered a glimmer of hope that the market section would stay open, the more recent statement makes it clear that the doors are shut for the foreseeable future.
For now, those of us who were planning to head through the R44 for a change of scenery will have to look elsewhere. It is a reminder of how quickly the local landscape can change, and a prompt to perhaps not wait too long before visiting the other local gems on our 2026 lists.
Root44 was more than just a place for a wine cocktail; it was a significant employer and a central part of the weekend routine for many South African families. Whether this is a final goodbye or a temporary pause remains to be seen, but the impact on the Stellenbosch and Helderberg community is undeniable.
There is now another side to this story. Following Root44’s closure announcement, the Stellenbosch Municipality has published a detailed timeline explaining why it says the market reached this point, including planning decisions dating back to 2009 and the owner’s eventual choice between keeping the market or the wine emporium.
You can read our full summary of the municipality’s response here.
I’m a wife, mother and local publisher who traded Johannesburg and two years abroad for life in Somerset West. Through HelderbergStuff, I share lifestyle stories, local discoveries and noteworthy developments across Somerset West, Strand and Gordon’s Bay. For media and collaboration enquiries: marina@helderbergstuff.co.za
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