Exploring Africa’s Creative Revolution: The Rise Of Concept Stores From Lagos To Cape Town
Africa has long been a home for creativity and culture, whether through art, fashion, design or music, a continent that proudly celebrates its unique rhythms and rich cultural tapestry. As a new wave of concept stores redefine the retail experience, they are more than just places to shop; They are creative hubs, community spaces and platforms that showcase the continent’s rich heritage and artistic expression. From streetwear and skate culture to high-end fashion and sustainable design, these stores offer a unique blend of products and experiences. Starting in Lagos and ending in Cape Town, we’re exploring some of the most exciting local and global concept stores shaping the future of retail on the continent.
Waffle Cream (Lagos, Nigeria)
WAFFLESNCREAM is Nigeria’s first skateboard and apparel brand and the first concrete skate park and skate culture center in West Africa. The brand was born out of its flagship store in Lagos and has spent the past eight years supporting, elevating and inspiring the local skate scene. Their unique approach is to incorporate elements of Nigeria’s history into their pieces, with retail products featuring an aesthetic mix of skateboard headwear, hardware and apparel. WAFFLESNCREAM is more than just a place to skate, it creates a center of creativity, friendship and shared experiences.
Location: Trocadéro Square Unit 5 The Rock Drive, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
Lotte Hotel (Accra, Ghana)
Located in the vibrant city of Accra, Ghana, The LOTTE is a luxury curated concept store that brings together a carefully curated range of high-end fashion and lifestyle products from Africa and its diaspora. In addition to retail, Lotte is a destination and center for artistic expression in fashion, art and sustainable design. Guests can not only browse and purchase curated merchandise, but also immerse themselves in unique and multi-faceted experiences. Through pop-up shops, installations and unique events, Rakuten serves as a vibrant platform for creativity and engagement in the heart of Accra.
Place: 33 C Josif Broz Tito Avenue, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana
Manor (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Located at 44 Stanley in Johannesburg, The Manor is a concept store and exhibition space that serves as a space for African creatives. Here, personality and storytelling come through through a variety of art forms and mediums. From fashion and design to photography and film, personality and storytelling are reflected through a variety of art forms and mediums. This multidisciplinary approach allows both creatives and visitors to express themselves and their diversity. Through a variety of experiential collaborations and events, the estate showcases Africa’s rich cultural heritage and provides a platform to amplify the many voices that shape Africa’s cultural heritage.
Place: 44 Stanley Ave, Braamfontein Shipyard, Johannesburg, South Africa
Shelf life (Cape Town, South Africa)
Known as South Africa’s leading sneaker and streetwear store, Shelflife opened its first flagship store in Cape Town in 2006. Undoubtedly the destination for all sneaker geeks and hypebeasts, Shelflife has the highest level of sneaker clientele in Africa and has a growing in-house clientele that strengthens its apparel range through collaborations with various popular brands. True to its graffiti and street art roots, Shelflife also owns the rights to Montana Colors spray paint imported from Barcelona and is the official paint stockist for the state of Montana in South Africa. Now, nearly 20 years later, while the brand continues to expand its physical stores, the Cape Town store remains the crown jewel. Moving into high-end homewares, the store also features a gallery and community gathering space, a sneaker wall of collaborative and heritage pieces, and a new Shelflife café.
Location: Military Camp No. 5 Store 50 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000
CHIMI (Cape Town, South Africa)
Swedish eyewear brand CHIMI, which has stores in Stockholm and Paris, recently opened its first flagship store in Africa in the heart of Cape Town. Located in the creative heart of Cape Town, CHIMI aims to redefine the typical retail experience. CHIMI’s philosophy revolves around capturing the essence of contemporary active lifestyles and the flagship store on Shortmarket Street echoes this vision, with every item in the store carefully selected to reflect CHIMI’s unique personality. As a space where products become part of the narrative, the store transcends the transactional nature of shopping and welcomes a spirit of collaboration and a collision of creative minds.
