The store, however, offered much more than convenience. It survived major historical events, including World War II, when the Royal Opera House across the street was destroyed in an air raid.

“Each generation of the Gauci family has worked their entire lives at the store, carrying the torch and continuing a tradition of quality, value and personal service to a broad spectrum of customers,” Gauci said.

“But, as my brother and I reach retiring age, we feel the time has come for us to consider the legacy that our grandfather started, and that our father passed on to us, as being fulfilled.

“It was not an easy journey. Family businesses rarely are. They demand long hours, constant responsibility and emotional investment. Nevertheless, together, we did something rare: we kept it running for a century.”

Unlike other long-established, family-run businesses in Valletta, such as N. Caruana and Sons and P. Muscat Opticians, which were compelled to close or relocate due to commercial pressures, Gauci said their circumstances were different.

“Letting go is painful but we know the time is right.”

The decision, he explained, was made after long reflection and was “entirely voluntary”, not the result of rental disputes or the widespread trend of catering outlets pushing out traditional shops.

“Now, we recognise that the three-generation family enterprise has run its course and we are proud to conclude on a high note,” he said. Still, on an emotional level, the choice was “very difficult”.

“To us, this is not just a store,” his brother and co-director Noel Gauci explained. “It is our identity, the embodiment of our family’s history, memories of our father and grandfather before him. Letting go is painful but we know the time is right.”

According to the brothers, the building will continue to serve a retail purpose, but not as a catering outlet.

The shop’s 101-year journey began when founder Emmanuel was inspired by the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Park in London in 1924, which displayed products from across the colonies.

Equipped with the latest fittings and refrigeration, the store originally stocked goods from throughout the Empire.

Now, as its shelves are cleared of the gourmet foods and daily essentials that once defined it, the Gaucis recalled: “The store stood for quality, international spirit and refinement from the start, quickly earning the trust of locals and British residents.”

During World War II, the building was badly damaged by falling debris from the bombed Opera House. Yet Emmanuel carried on with determination, his descendants recounted. The store stayed open, not with fine products, but by distributing rations to the community.

After the war, it was rebuilt, and in 1946, Emmanuel’s son Joseph returned from his apprenticeship at Harrods in London, bringing new ideas while “honouring The Wembley Store’s traditions”.

By 1972, Joseph had officially established Wembley Stores Co. Ltd, creating a solid foundation for growth. His sons, Noel and Christopher, modernised the business while keeping ties with artisan suppliers and safeguarding its heritage.

Before the war, the store was also a social hub, a place where people bought fine chocolates before a performance at the Opera House. But when the theatre lay in ruins, “it was painful” for people to pass by, recalled fourth-generation family member Katrina Gauci, who studied the building as part of her architectural work.

She also noted how the broken arrow on the shop’s sign became its symbol, appearing on postcards over time.

Part of Republic Street’s history, from its Strada Reale days to Kingsway, the Wembley Store adapted over decades, thriving especially during the British period.

As the chapter closes, the owners expressed heartfelt thanks to their staff and customers:

A notice reading ‘The Wembley Stores, A Legacy Fulfilled’ will soon be placed on its distinctive green façade.

“To our co-workers, past and present, thank you. You were the heart of this business. To our customers, both lifelong regulars and new faces – we’ve cherished every moment.

“We could not have done it without you. We will miss the customers that have come through our doors from near and far, the regulars that have grown old with us and the new faces of passers-by, but it is time. We have done our part,” they said.

To preserve its memory, a new website has been launched, featuring its history, photographs, and an open call for people to share anecdotes, messages, and images connected to the store.

A visitors’ book, kept between 1948 and 1982, along with letters of appreciation from housewives, artists, and Royal Navy officers, speaks to its role in everyday life.

“Over the past 100 years, The Wembley Store has been more than just a shop, it has been part of daily life, celebrations and tradition,” the website states, inviting the public to share their memories.

“Whether you shopped here as a child, worked behind the counter, or just remember something special, your memory is part of our history.”

Share this article with someone you’ve created memories with at Wembley, and keep the legacy alive together.