Story 03 · Markets & memories
Our Root44 days belong to an earlier chapter of Piping Hot Pizza Cones: the market at Audacia Farm, in Stellenbosch, during its old tent era.
Back in the tent days
Before the permanent building, Root44’s food and craft traders worked beneath large marquees. Vineyards and mountains framed the setting, while sheltered seating, live music and children’s play areas made it a place for families to spend a weekend together.
Audacia’s account of the old market describes an all-weather weekend gathering, with stalls selling everything from jewellery and clothing to books and homeware. The marquees sheltered visitors from the rain, and the market also hosted a Saturday parkrun through the vineyards.
A moment from our own story
On 25 November 2018, our Instagram page shared a photograph of Hannes de Bruyn at Root44, ready to prepare pizza cones for visitors. It is a small piece of our market history, preserved from those earlier days at Audacia.
A pizza cone fits the market experience: something warm to enjoy while browsing, meeting friends and exploring the stalls. This photograph takes us back to a time when Piping Hot Pizza Cones was part of that scene.
See our original photograph from 25 November 2018.
Historical background: Audacia’s description of the original Root44 market and a contemporary market report from September 2015. This story looks back at the old market; it is not a guide to current opening times.