Paarl’s retail landscape just levelled up. The newly opened Winelands Square Shopping Mall isn’t just another shopping centre; it’s a statement of growth for the Boland town, anchored by a massive, next-generation Checkers Hyper that brings a special first to the Western Cape: a dedicated, in-store LEGO shop-in-shop.
For parents and collectors alike, this is a major draw. The interactive LEGO display promises hands-on engagement, strategically placed to capture imaginations (and shopping lists) of all ages. But as branch manager Amanda Africa explains, it’s just one feature of a store designed as the “ultimate one-stop shopping destination” for Paarl’s expanding community.
More Than Just Bricks: A Hyper-Focused Experience
Occupying a sprawling 5,670 square metresa significant chunk of the 20,000 square metre mallthis Checkers Hyper is the eighth of its kind in the province. It moves far beyond standard groceries. Shoppers can browse fresh sushi, grab a Krispy Kreme doughnut, pick up a Kauai smoothie, select outdoor furniture, or visit a full-service butchery and fish shop, all under one roof.
Crucially, the store also brings Checkers Hyper Sixty60 delivery to Paarl, meaning those bulkier items and big weekly shops can now be ordered for same-day delivery. This taps directly into the phenomenal growth of Shoprite’s on-demand platform, which recent data suggests is now rivalling even major e-commerce players in frequency of use.
Upscale Ambiance Meets Community Impact
Winelands Square signals a move toward a more premium retail experience for the area. Beyond the Hyper, the mall features upmarket brands like gourmet restaurant La Parada, skincare specialist Dermalogica, fashion outlets Fjall Raven and Gary Rom, and beauty destination Boa Beauty. The development’s second phase is already underway, set for completion in April 2026.
Perhaps the most celebrated local headline, however, is the 234 new jobs created by the Hyper’s opening. In a time of economic strain, this tangible community benefit is a powerful part of the store’s launch story.
A Broader Picture of Aggressive Growth
This opening is a single tile in a much larger expansion mosaic for the Shoprite Group. While some competitors retrench, Shoprite is on an aggressive rollout, having opened 143 new stores in just five months (July-November 2025) toward a yearly target of 223.
Their strategy is clear: convert stores to the successful fresh-focused “FreshX” format and push into underrepresented areas. The Paarl Hyper, with its blend of fresh food excellence, general merchandise, and experiential draws like the LEGO boutique, is a textbook example of this winning formula in action.
For Paarl residents, Winelands Square is more than a new place to shop. It’s a sign of the town’s growing economic clout, a creator of local employment, and a new weekend destination where you can buy a steak, a set of LEGO, and a designer handbagall before getting your groceries delivered to your door before sunset.
