Catching up with the Lion’s Square KwikSpar Family
If you’ve been around the block for a while, then Lion’s Square is one block on Main Road you’ll know all too well. The family-run KWIKSPAR at Lion’s Square has been serving our Village for nearly 25 years, and for the owners, family has been a core value since day one. We recently sat down for a coffee with Janine Fourie to find out more about the heart and soul behind KWIKSPAR at Lion’s Square.
Upholding the Family Name: The Tale of Three Theos
Settled into the store’s newly revamped Greenhouse coffee bar with a warm Hazz coffee and a rocky road treat (my go-to SPAR indulgence), I asked Janine to tell me more about her family – how they came to Somerset West, and where she fits into the picture. She smiled and warned me upfront: “There are a lot of us.” The story involves three Theos, plus two Carines. See if you can keep up!
The first Theo – Theo Espost – opened the KWIKSPAR at Lion’s Square with his wife Carine in October 2000. He was a beloved foodie with a deep love for community, remembered for walking the aisles offering samples and chatting to customers.
Meanwhile, 130 km away in Moorreesburg, Theo Strydom – Janine’s father – and his wife Carine were running their own SPAR. Unaware of their near-identical names and lives, the two couples finally crossed paths at a SPAR Group event. Fast forward to 2014, Theo Strydom bought the SPAR at Paul Roos in Stellenbosch from Theo Espost. A year later, Theo Espost tragically passed away in a car accident, and his wife sold the KWIKSPAR Lion’s Square to the Strydom family.
Janine had been living in Moorreesburg with her husband Marcel and their two young children. In 2015, they packed up and moved to Somerset West to take over the store and continue the legacy. “We were very young retailers,” Janine recalled. “And we had to fill very big shoes – he [Theo Espost] was an insanely brilliant retailer.”
Nearly a decade later, they’ve not only filled those shoes but walked far in them. In 2024, they completed a major revamp of the Tops store and the coffee bar. Janine, who has a background in chartered accountancy, now sits on the Western Cape SPAR Guild – the first woman to do so. Her cousin Magda, who has a degree in Food Science, manages service departments, and Marcel runs day-to-day operations, managing staff, helping customers and, as Janine says, “dealing with everything that breaks.” The family has also grown since making the move to Somerset West, with Janine and Marcel welcoming their third child in 2022.
Wondering about the third Theo? That would be the landlord. Yep, it came out during our conversation that the Lion’s Square building itself is owned by yet another Theo.
The working Family
What stood out most from listening to Janine talk was the Strydom-Fourie family’s deep love for their extended family – the 100 staff members at the store, countless customers, and thousands of Somerset West residents they serve daily.
“One of the main reasons we do what we do,” Janine said, “is because it’s an amazing opportunity to have input into people’s lives. We’re not just here to make a profit – we want to make a difference through the way we work with people.”
As we chatted about how the community has truly adopted the store as “their SPAR,” several regulars walked by, waving as they spotted Janine through the window. She paused at one point, smiling: “Esme, who just passed by, once jumped in to help a fellow shopper while I was busy. The lady asked, ‘Do you work here?’ and she was like, ‘No, but it’s my SPAR.’”
The family has adopted Somerset West as their community too – regularly donating to the Night Shelter, supporting local fundraisers, and even selling blue doughnuts in support of Parel Vallei High during their derby weekend.
Investing in people is a recurring theme for this family. Marcel is especially passionate about mentoring the men on their team, encouraging engaged fatherhood and family involvement. Their investment in their staff was tangibly apparent as Janine related the story of their longest-standing employee, Pieter, who has been baking in the store since day one back in 2000. The SPAR family has assisted Pieter and his family to maintain their apartment where they lived on Main Road throughout his career, and now, nearing retirement, they are looking at options to help him find a forever home where he can grow old with his wife and enjoy his grandchildren.
family secrets
Every great family has a few secrets – and this one is no different. Janine let us in on a few insider tips every local should know about the store:
The Bakery: Their eight Master Bakers start at 5 a.m. daily to keep the shelves stocked with fresh bread and their famous milk tart.
Foods of the World: Their imported food section, originally inspired by Theo Espost’s trip to Germany in the early 2000s, is a lifeline and a comfort for Somerset West’s large German community.
The Butchery: Leon has been the man behind the butcher’s block for 18 years and knows exactly how to prepare the perfect cut for your next dinner party.
Market Day Wednesdays: Every Wednesday, Shanel (their bargain-hunting queen) secures the best deals she can find for just R20. This is a weekly must-visit for local shoppers.
Whether it’s the famous milk tarts, the special German delights, or the way Janine remembers every regular’s name – it’s clear that the Strydom-Fourie family hasn’t just taken over a store; they’ve inherited a legacy of love and community. On this Family Day, we celebrate not just the families who shop here, but the SPAR family who’s made this place feel like home for nearly 25 years.
So next time you pop in for one of Pieter’s freshly-baked breads, greet Leon at the butcher, or ask Shanel what’s on special this week – remember, you’re not just shopping. You’re part of the family.