The Golden 7 kiosk, familiar to anyone who has ever driven through Msida – that is, everyone – is closing down, as a major infrastructural project that will see the area being totally transformed gathers steam.

Although the kiosk was initially set to close in June, owner Mario Vella and manager Amir Fareed took the difficult decision to shut down early due to the loss of business from operating in the middle of a construction site, surrounded by concrete barriers that make access difficult, according to a Times of Malta report published on Wednesday (today).

Arriving to Malta from Egypt at the age of 19, Mr Fareed started as a dishwasher at the Golden 7 shortly after.

“I began as a dishwasher, then trained as a cook, and step by step worked my way up to becoming the manager,” he said.

Now, he is tasked with selling off the equipment he has worked at for two decades, being “visibly emotional” as he showcased what is left of the interior to reporters.

While Mr Vella has confirmed that the kiosk may yet be rebuilt after the works are complete in 2027, Mr Fareed has spoken openly about the difficulties he faces as his livelihood for the last 20 years vanishes before his eyes.

The infrastructural project will see the construction of a new flyover and a complete facelift of the heavily-trafficked area, with 1.6km of new cycling lanes and pedestrian pathways and the construction of a new canal and a new square in front of the Msida parish church.