Family-run Żurrieq stationery closes doors for good after five decades

After greeting customers for over 50 years, Tonna Stationery and Cards, located in the heart of Żurrieq, opened and closed its doors for the very last time on Wednesday, bringing a sense of sadness to its owners and customers. 

Located in the village’s old post office on Trejqet Santa Katerina, Ġanni Tonna first opened the doors to the stationery in October 1974. Five decades later, his sisters, Christina Bonello and Rita Tonna, will close it for the last time on the eve of a new year, as they both decided to retire.

“Our customers came today with tears in their eyes at the news that we are closing,” Christina told Times of Malta. 

She recalled fondly how her brother, who passed away in 2021, would open the shop every day at 5.30am. She would spend hours behind the till with him, greeting young and old customers from the village. 

Christina began working and helping her brother at the shop at the age of 17, and the shop became her second home.

Tonna's Stationery closed its doors for good on New Year's Eve. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

At 68, she has fond memories of selling pencils and copybooks to young children, and newspapers and birthday cards to adults. She described the shop as more of a ‘bazaar’ as it would sell all kinds of things, including books, soft toys and beach towels.

She recalled children’s giggles and excitement for the new scholastic year, as they came with long lists of items they needed for school. 

“We are part of the community - sometimes we would help our older customers with things such as topping up their mobile phone,” Christina said.

“Some of our current customers would have first come to the shop with their parents or grandparents when they were young. They now step into the shop with their own family,” she said. 

The decision to close shop was not easy, but Christina and her sister both reached retirement age and have no family member willing take on the business.

Christina's daughter, Maria Bonello, explained that both she and her cousins, all in their early 20s and 30s, have careers of their own and are unable to take on the shop's upkeep.

She too has fond memories of the shop: "When I was not at nanna's, I would be at the shop. I remember spending countless hours at the shop from a young age. I was so young I couldn't even reach the counter".

The village's mayor, Rita Grima took to Facebook to thank the siblings for their hard work throughout the years. 

Underneath her social media post, other residents and former customers shared their memories of the shop, with some describing the Tonna siblings as "people of respect".

They also wished the sisters a happy retirement.