It is said that every cloud has a silver lining and Tony Stivala's success story as a man who buys, sells and exchanges collectibles more than proves this saying.

Mr Stivala had had a good run for his money in the video rental business but then an illness struck. It was about 25 years ago that he opened Video Palace, in Gżira, which he described as the biggest video shop on the island.

While on a short visit to London, Mr Stivala had come across a video rental outlet and was intrigued by the way the business was run. Back home, he bought a few shops pushing this line and paid back the bank through the profit he made. The business grew, especially with the advent of colour TV.

But when business was booming, like a bolt out of the blue, Mr Stivala was gripped by an ailment. "The workload and the long hours I was dedicating to the business had taken their toll," he explained.

On advice from his wife, Jenny, a Scot, Mr Stivala saw a doctor who advised him to stay away from work and take up a hobby.

"A friend of mine suggested I join the Hobbies Society and, soon, most of the members would come up to me with items they had come across and I would buy them".

Soon enough, he was reading books and magazines on items people collect. The list is practically infinite, ranging from holy pictures, water jugs, toys, coins, military medals, brewerania - that is all things having to do with beers and spirits - and even train and tram tickets.

Mr Stivala became so immersed in this line he ended up secretary of the Hobbies Society. One fine morning, however, the penny dropped and he asked himself what on earth was he doing spending so much time on the sideline when he had a business going. So he decided to keep one of the shops as a collectors' coffee shop and lease the rest.

"The idea was to display the items I had collected and pass the time away as people would come to the café for a chat about their collection," Mr Stivala said.

Initially, he did not have enough items to fill the few cabinets he had but the shop became a mecca for collectors.

That shop, called Times Gone By, in Sliema Road, Gżira*, will be demolished and a new outlet built where collectors will be able to meet.

Mr Stivala's wife is immersed as much as he is into this fascinating business as are his children Anthony and Emma.

It is planned that a year from now, what started out as a glitch in Mr Stivala's life will turn into a prime collectors' haven.

* Currently, Mr Stivala is operating from The Collector, close to the traffic lights in Rue D'Argens,Gżira.

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