Pietru Pawl Miceli, the owner of Miceli Store, an ironmongery found on St Lucy Street, Valletta, has shared his recollections from half a century working at the popular shop.

Recounted the iconic ironmongery’s history to People of Malta, Mr Miceli notes there were “about another nine shops similar to this in Valletta. Now there are only three.”

“My uncle had started the business in 1971 and then I took over. I spent over 50 years working in this establishment.”

Bringing a new meaning to ‘general store’, Mr Miceli noted that at the time the shop even sold wedding gifts.

“I have seen all types of clients and still do,” he said. “It is through this shop that I have learnt how to speak in English and even a little Italian because even tourists frequent it.”

As testament to his long history working in the shop, Mr Miceli said that he even remembers pennies, before multiple changes in currency.

“I have never argued with anybody. I am happy to endure myself to make sure that clients are served.”

His only regret? “I was too good and have been cheated out of a lot of money. I trusted and people abused of that trust. That is my only regret.”

Perhaps because of this, he says he “never made much money”.

“I lived, brought up a family, spent good times with them but never managed to save a cent.”

As a popular and well-known mainstay of the Valletta business scene, the shop is today a meeting point, according to Mr Miceli.

“It is not the first time I have heard people say: ‘Shall we meet next to Miceli Store?’”

Evidence of the changing times, the shop sign, which Mr Miceli remembers to be a “proper painted” one, has since been changed to a sticker.

The photo taken by People of Malta shows Mr Miceli standing with his son, Joseph.