End of an era: Valletta's spice shop Tal-Ħwawar to close after 135 years

Valletta’s long-standing little corner spice shop will be closing down after 135 years due to the “takeover” of catering establishments that left no space for tradition, snuffing out an era and another icon of the capital city.

Selling a wide range of herbs and spices since 1888, multi-generational family-run George Zammit Tal-Ħwawar, as it is known, on St John’s Street corner with St Paul’s, was “suffocated” out of the city, according to its third-generation owner.

Johann Farrugia, still busy behind the counter after 47 long years – buried in bags of strong flavours and aromas he has grown immune to, said he would be out by the end of January as the store had reached a “point of no return” more than a century after it was founded by his father’s uncle.

“Restaurants, cafés and wine bars have taken over Valletta and you feel there is no space for you,” he said.

The spice shop will close in January. Video: Karl Andrew Micallef

People were visiting the city in the evening for entertainment purposes mainly and there was no longer the same variety of shops, Farrugia contended.

These had changed the feel, narrowed and obstructed streets, preventing other shops from being...