Business for sale
Embrace slow-town café living in historic 1931 mill in Riviersonderend — beloved Padloper Café with a spacious pet-friendly garden and children's play area, sold as a running concern.
This special property offers a rare chance to own a well-known, fully running business in one of Riviersonderend’s oldest and most loved buildings. Zoned Business Zone 2 and sold as a going concern, it is a true part of the town’s history.
The building is believed to have been built in 1931 by Mr. Diedericks and originally served as a mill for local farmers. Over the years, it has continued to play an important role in the community, and its character and charm are still very much alive today.
In 1983, the property was bought by Jos van Eeden, whose father was the town’s meulenaar (miller). Jos added the balcony and stoep, and the building later became a bakery run by Mrs. Rina Eksteen, followed by a butchery. During this time, a cold room was added next to the kitchen. It is currently used as a storeroom but can easily be converted back into a working cold room.
The current owners bought the property in 2014 and carefully updated it while keeping its original feel. Today, it operates as the much-loved Padloper Café. Guests can enjoy meals inside, on the stoep, or in the beautiful garden. The garden is a big draw for families and travellers, offering pet-friendly seating and a fun play area for children, complete with a green tractor.
Padloper Café is known as a place where you can slow down and relax. Friendly staff, freshly prepared meals, and locally sourced ingredients make every visit special. The menu offers something for everyone, and alcoholic beverages are served under an on-consumption liquor license.
Upstairs is an open space currently used as an office, accessed via an outside staircase. With the addition of an internal staircase, this area could easily become an art gallery, studio, wine-tasting space, or an extension of the café’s craft and gift shop. The large balcony upstairs offers stunning, uninterrupted mountain views.
Below the café is a naturally cool storage area, ideal for wine storage.
The property is situated on a 945 m2 stand and is sold fully equipped, including all furniture and appliances. This is a true walk-in, take-over opportunity, ready for its next owner to continue the story.
Properties with this kind of history, charm, and income potential seldom come onto the market. This is your chance to own a genuine piece of Riviersonderend’s heritage.
Subdivision details:
The total current stand size is 2,479 m2 and is in the process of being subdivided into two stands.
The back stand is also available for sale at R920,000.
Property details:
oDownstairs under roof (including front and back stoep): ±243 m2
oUpstairs under roof: ±85 m2
oTotal: ±328 m2
Registered with the PPRA.
Listed for sale at R2,950,000
Riviersonderend Central serves as a vital strategic stopover along the N2 highway, offering a tranquil yet accessible environment ideal for retail, hospitality, and small-scale service businesses catering to both local residents and high-volume transit traffic.
