World-famous South African bar selling for R18 million
The world-famous Ronnie’s Sex Shop, a landmark along South Africa’s Route 62, is up for sale after more than three decades in business.
The bar, known for its odd name and cluttered interior filled with traveller memorabilia, has long been a popular stop for road trippers, bikers, and locals passing through the Klein Karoo.
It is now on the market for R17.9 million, which would mark the end of an era for one of the Karoo’s most recognisable roadside establishments.
The story behind Ronnie’s Sex Shop began in the 1970s when local farmer Ronnie Price decided to open a small farm stall on Route 62 near Barrydale to sell fruit and vegetables.
To attract passing motorists, he painted “Ronnie’s Shop” on the wall of a whitewashed cottage. Not long after, some friends decided to play a prank—adding the word “Sex” to the sign in red paint.
The altered name drew attention from drivers, and rather than repaint it, Price decided to keep it. Instead of opening another ordinary roadside stall, he turned the place into a pub.
What began as a joke slowly developed into a social hub in the middle of the semi-arid Karoo.
The bar became known for its laid-back atmosphere and for the hundreds of items left behind by visitors—from bras hanging from the ceiling to notes and stickers covering every inch of wall space.
Three years after the pub opened, Route 62 was formally established as a scenic alternative to the N2 highway. Its popularity as a wine and tourist route helped cement Ronnie’s Sex Shop as one of the best-known stops between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn.
After nearly three decades of running the bar, Price has now decided to sell. The 230-hectare farm on which the business operates has been in the family for 36 years.
The sale includes the pub, a coffee shop, a gift shop, and a wooden deck that seats around 60 guests.
There’s also a three-bedroom, two-bathroom main house and a smaller flat on the property, however, Ronnie will retain a life right to the main farmhouse, with all associated costs covered by him.
Karoo quitely becoming a semigration hotspot
According to the estate agency Rawson Properties, the farm has good water security, with a borehole producing 40,000 litres an hour and a natural freshwater fountain.
However, the listing notes that Price will retain a life right to remain in the main farmhouse, with associated costs covered by him.
While the bar remains a local landmark, its sale also reflects a broader trend in the Karoo, where demand for property has been quietly rising.
Estate agents have noted that smaller towns in the region are attracting buyers looking for quieter and more affordable living compared to South Africa’s crowded and expensive cities.
Pam Golding Properties has reported that the Karoo has seen growing interest from people seeking a slower pace of life.
Wayne Rubidge, the company’s area principal for the Karoo, said that the region’s open spaces, old architecture, and sense of community appeal to those leaving urban areas.
“Even the Karoo’s culinary revival, boerewors and biltong culture, and improving internet connectivity have drawn a new wave of remote workers and entrepreneurs,” Rubidge said.
He added that many people now see owning property in the Karoo as a practical alternative to coastal holiday homes.
Prices in the area remain lower than in major metros. In larger Karoo towns, buyers typically pay between R1.2 million and R2.5 million for a home, while smaller villages often have properties selling for under R900,000.
“In many of the surrounding areas, a good-quality house can still be found for around R1 million to R1.2 million,” said Rubidge.
Ronnie’s Sex Shop – R17.9 million
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