Stepping Back in Time
Hermanus, much like my home town - Cape Town… is a holiday town and until we moved here a few years ago, it was a place which we would often visit during our end of year holidays which were mostly spent with the rest of the family, at my dads house. Now, I get to call this gorgeous place home and even though we have already been here for a little while, we still discover something new every single time we go out.
This particular place was not really a “new” discovery… but venturing inside it… is like the first time, every time! Twice a week I am graced with a little bit of “me” time in the afternoons because Jude has his soccer practice which is normally about two hours long. If it is a match day then I will stick around and be his cheerleader, but on practice days I either head off to take care of grocery shopping or I go and do a little bit of exploring! Once in central town, which is about a five minute drive from the sports club, I parked the car and decided to get some steps in!
I had no particular place I wanted to go to or direction I had to walk, so I just meandered along aimlessly and happily. It was actually through the discovery of a different shop a few blocks away, that I ended up learning about this other gem. The really sweet sales lady behind the counter and I, got into a conversation about all the fascinating places there are in central Hermanus and she mentioned Romantiques to me.
The name sounded very familiar and now that I have had my visual memory jogged - I do actually recall my dad taking us there some time back. It has been a good few years since I was there last - not a bad sign for a retail shop at all!! - especially in South Africa. Although, this is definitely not any “run of the mill” shop. It is actually a little overwhelming when you first walk in because there is just SOOOO much to see!!
Not only is it a total visual vintage heaven with eye candy as far as you can see, but it is also incredibly rich in history. Now, I will be honest… history has never been my favourite topic, but walking around a space discovering, touching and exploring all this old stuff that was once upon a time functional in someones life, kind of puts a bit of a different spin on the whole history thing. It certainly beats a text book, lol.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
What an incredible beginning!
It is not every day that a retail store also has the backdrop of a fascinating story about how it began, but this spot was just full of surprises! I think it is safe to say that many people dream of owning their own business one day, but I suppose some people are just naturals at getting it done right. Romantiques was one of those stories… started by a young girl in 2006 - not a young adult, a young GIRL! On the hunt to make a little extra money after her school days she originally started out in a tiny little space, pretty much the size of a single bedroom and this space was located in someone else's shop.
It is obvious that her novel business idea grew from strength to strength because in 2010 her little "shop" was featured in one our National Afrikaans newspapers. She got her friends involved and so the business continued to grow. They eventually took over the entire premises of which they originally rented one room. How awesome is that?!!!
These young ladies just got the business recipe right, because eventually their shop of memorabilia was eventually featured on one of South Africa's most "Premier" Lifestyle TV Shows at the time. I do not think the show is around anymore, but at the time it was the shiz nizz!
In January 2021 the shop found itself a new owner... James Ludick. I Shudder to know what he paid for this business considering all the priceless memorabilia and simultaneously smile out loud at one young girl who had the courage to start this now Internationally recognised treasure in Hermanus!
INSIDE THIS VINTAGE HEAVEN
You need a few solid days to explore this place!
Adding even more character to an already character rich place, the new location of the shop was originally an old school house… so as you step inside and then wander from room to room, you literally begin to get lost in all the fascinating stuff, all over - everywhere!! Every single room has its own unique theme with accompanying decor and paraphernalia. As an example… when I arrived, I was greeted with the "candy counter" which literally transported me back to my own childhood!
You genuinely do feel like you have traveled back in time as you walk through this magical space. You can see the love, passion and care which has gone into absolutely every inch! And just when you think you are done, you turn another corner and TADAAA there is even more and more stuff to consume your mind and time with - another room and then another and as your feet carry you around, the years continue unfolding before your eyes... and as if the shop itself was not magnificent enough all on its own... they actually have their own little vintage theatre where they feature vintage films a couple of times a week… so you buy your tickets, popcorn and then get to enjoy a cinematic blast from the past!
Nope, were are not done yet… another corner, another hidden gem - and so I headed outside! This was little boy heaven - or perhaps man heaven too… There was some seriously deep history in those little nooks! World War memorabilia, the Army stuff, shoe makers, mechanics and the list goes on - essentially, everything which was "hands on"... something which is almost forgotten in today's world.
I cannot deny that I was hit quite hard emotionally by these sections of history… It wasnt china cups or kids cuddly toys... no, there are soldiers jackets, hats, badges - shoemakers blocks, tools and just so much more. I felt a very specific kind of energy in that space of the shop, because the items of history which lie there now, carry toil. You cannot look at the badges, tools, hats, guns, swords, knives and "stuff" used by a person and not be impacted by it.
All of those facets had a section dedicated to them and I must say that I actually felt a little bit down when I left there. I was quite relieved to be greeted with the beautiful garden area.
I took a slight breath of relief as I moved away from all of that and headed into the garden. I took a moment - stopped and thought about just how many generations of experience, life, emotion and circumstance I had just walked through. It was a little overwhelming really, but man… what an experience!!! but to be honest... it afforded me perspective - one which I need to keep in the forefront of my sights at this point in time. No, I did not buy anything... but I walked away with many riches.
❤❤❤
Until next time...
Much Love from Country Bumpkinland, South Africa xxx
Jaynielea
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I love stores like that, where the shop itself is also a story! What an amazing place to explore...
I still find it interestingly synchronistic that my mom and stepdad (retired to the UK and southern Spain, at the time) would spend three months in Hermanus each year during their "tax refugee" years (early 1980s till near 2000) and always spoke very highly of it. Somewhere in my stuff I have a few old photos from there that she took during visits. I think I probably told you this, way back when...
Greetings, what beautiful images, they have the mark of memory, just what my poem today is about. Thank you for sharing
Wow.. this place is truly full of treasure..