Cape Town first: The Street Store

Next pop-up is 12 April. See where to donate until 31 March

Last updated: Wednesday, 12 March 2025 

The world's first rent-free, premise-free pop-up clothing store for the homeless was started in Cape Town. For many, this is their first real shopping experience, and it’s dignified. They’re not rummaging through bins, but browsing through hangers, and walking away with what they actually want and like. 

The next Cape Town pop-up is happening on 12 April, and you can get involved by donating your pre-loved clothes and shoes. Find out where and what you can donate, how you can host your own street store, and some insights from the founder, Mike Abel.


The Street Store was founded in 2014. Image: The Street Store

PRE-LOVED POP-UP FOR THE HOMELESS

The Street Store is an initiative by the Up&Up Group and was founded in 2014. This simple concept has a huge impact and they've set up over 1 000 pop-up stores worldwide, from Hong Kong and Brazil to Mexico and the Philippines. 

This year, they've teamed up with Old Khaki for the "Last Season Is So This Season" campaign, encouraging people to rethink their old clothing.


It’s somewhere safe to give and easy for the homeless to collect. Image: The Street Store

WHAT & WHERE TO DONATE

You can donate:

• Clothes for all genders & ages 

• Shoes for all genders & ages 

• No underwear
  
  

The donations need to be:

• Clean and recently washed 

• In good condition (no holes or stains)
  
  

You can drop off your donations at these Old Khaki stores until 31 March 2025:

• Blue Route Mall (16 Tokai Road, Tokai) 

• Canal Walk Shopping Centre (490 Century Boulevard, Century City) 

• Somerset Mall (Centenary Drive, Intersection of N2 & R44 Somerset West, Centenary Drive, Somerset West) 

• Table Bay Mall (Corner of R27 and Berkshire Boulevard, Sunningdale) 

• Tyger Valley Shopping Centre (Corner of Bill Bezuidenhout Avenue, Willie Van Schoor Drive, Bellville Park)

Donations for all genders and ages are welcome. Image: The Street Store

HOST ONE IN YOUR OWN CITY

You can host your own street store event too, as others are doing around the world Here's how:

• Visit The Street Store website.

• Take the pledge - There are 18 statements that you’ll agree to, like that your event will only be used for non-profit purposes. You then select a language and write a short blurb about why you want to host an event. 

• Get access to marketing materials - After taking the pledge, their posters, guidebook, and presentation will download to your device. You'll receive printable PDFs and editable InDesign files (for adding your logo). You’ll need InDesign to edit the files.

• Plan your event.

• Send them the event info - Email the event info to hello@thestreetstore.org and they’ll list it on their website and create a Facebook event for you. 

They’ve set up over 1 000 pop-up stores across the globe. Image: The Street Store
 

FROM THE FOUNDER, MIKE ABEL

We chatted to Mike Abel, the founder of Up&Up Group and The Street Store, and he shared some insights. 

Can you share a Street Store moment that really touched you? 

“After my dad died, my sister and I donated his clothes to The Street Store. He was a meticulously dressed man and took great pride in his appearance - even at 87. A homeless man arrived at the Street Store in threadbare clothing, and 15 minutes later, left dressed head to toe in my dad’s clothing. When I looked at him, his huge smile, his pride, even asking us to take and use the photo of him, I thought how happy and proud my dad would have been seeing his clothing used like this,” Mike says.

Street Store (as opposed to other drives) gives homeless people the opportunity to pick what they like. Why is this part of your mission?

“Choice is the core of dignity. To choose clothing you like, want, need and that is in your size. That’s why it’s called a ‘store’ where you can ‘shop’ for what you like - rather than just settling for whatever is available in a black bag,” he says.
 

FOR MORE INFO ON STREET STORE 

Donate your clothing until: 31 March 2025 
The Street Store is happening: 12 April 2025
Find it: Haven Night Shelter 
Contact on: The Street Store website, @thestreetstoreorg

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WHERE TO SHOP IN CAPE TOWN  

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