Cool Story Bru is taking South Africans on a journey back in time, reminding us of the beloved stores that are no longer part of our shopping landscape. In a recent viral TikTok video, content creator Austin Macaskill dives deep into the closures of some iconic retailers, stirring up a whirlwind of nostalgia among those who cherished shopping in these stores.
In his video posted on November 30, 2025, Austin kicked things off by discussing JayJays, the Australian clothing brand that exited South Africa in 2015 due to poor performance. He also touched on the downfall of Reggie's, the toy store that faced its demise amid controversies.
As streaming services revolutionized the music industry, we bid farewell to Look and Listen in 2017 and Musica in 2021. Austin highlighted the struggles of Dion Wired, stating:
"Due to bad performance and online shopping, Massmart, which also owns Game and Makro, was forced to close the franchise in 2020."
Another tragic closure mentioned was Stuttafords, once a go-to clothing destination, which succumbed to fierce competition and soaring retail costs before shutting its doors in 2016.
Reminiscing About Our Favorite Stores
The TikTok video sparked a wave of comments from social media users reminiscing about their favorite stores that didn't make it to Austin's list. One commenter, @letukavich_, expressed:
"I feel like Musica failed to evolve. They could have literally converted into a digital store, unless it doesn’t work that way."
There were warnings from others as well, with @monyeanthomas2020 cautioning:
"Truworths better take note. They may be going the same route."
And who could forget the lovely dresses from Stuttafords? @misszulu2 shared:
"I miss Stuttafords' cute dresses."
A curious commenter, @lungainnocent107, inquired:
"Is Dunns still around?"
Not everyone was familiar with these shops, as @jay_delen admitted:
"Unfortunately, I have never heard of these shops until today."
More on Local Shop Stories
- In related news, Briefly News reported that Shoprite recently sold beef for under R10, creating buzz among local shoppers.
- A shopper in Cape Town unearthed a staggering R4,000 chocolate bar at Pick n Pay, shocking many.
- In an eyebrow-raising story, a customer revealed that a pair of jeans at Mr Price was priced a mere cent higher than its original price.
It seems the closure of these shops has left a mark on our collective memory, and while some may be gone, the memories will undoubtedly linger on.
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