After nearly half a century of service to the San Ġwann community, local general store Ambrose is preparing to close its doors for the final time.
Owners Carmel and Mary Rose Attard Flores, who opened the shop on 1st July 1978, have announced that they are selling off the remaining stock ahead of their retirement. Known affectionately by locals simply as Ambrose, the shop has been a cornerstone of the community for generations.
Speaking to the popular Facebook page The People of Malta, Mr Attard Flores reflected on the shop’s origins and its deep personal roots. “We had chosen this name for two reasons: Part of it is my wife's name and the other to St Ambrose who is the patron saint of Milan. I am a huge fan of AC Milan,” he shared.
At the time they opened the shop, Carmel and Mary Rose were still engaged. It was Mrs Attard Flores who initially took the lead in running the store, even during challenging periods. “She used to come here even when she was nine months pregnant and when we had young children. We have five children,” Mr Attard Flores said, highlighting the immense dedication and sacrifices the couple made over the years.
Back in 1978, San Ġwann was a far quieter place, with just a handful of shops – “a grocer, some coffee shops and one pharmacy,” Mr Attard Flores recalled. Over time, Ambrose became a general store where locals could find everything from groceries to toiletries. The couple even introduced an innovative Gift Scheme booklet, where points were awarded based on how much customers spent.
The couple spoke of the changing times and shifting shopping habits that have affected many small family-run businesses. “Women now work, and there are very few people on the streets. Everyone goes to supermarkets where they find everything or opt for online shopping,” Mr Attard Flores said, noting that business had declined in recent years.
There was once a time when three people would be serving customers at Ambrose, with Mrs Attard Flores' sister and father lending a hand – “God rest his soul,” he added.
Yet despite the challenges, the shop has given the couple a deep sense of purpose and joy. “Work teaches you and you must adapt your business over time. A lot of patience is required for this type of work and you need to make sure that you serve your clients in the best way possible,” he reflected. “Our shop has provided us with immense satisfaction and we have made a lot of friends. Now their grandchildren, who were young children at the time, come to the shop.”
The announcement of the closure was met with sadness by many long-time customers. “Our clients were saddened when they got to know we were closing down, but this had to happen at one point or another,” he said. “We are happy that we have always served them in the best way possible.”
Looking back, some of their fondest memories are linked to the festive season. “We shall miss our work, especially during the Christmas period when we used to decorate and install speakers and play Christmas Carols,” he said.
As for the future of similar ventures, the owner did not sugar-coat the difficulties. “Should anyone inform us that they were thinking of setting up a shop like ours I would recommend that they think about it well. It is very difficult for small shops to survive.”
