End of an era as famous Hastings Old Town shop finally closes

Roberts Rummage, in the High Street, was a well loved Hastings institution. Stacked from floor to ceiling with interesting curios and useful items, you could find anything from a pewter tankard to a cupboard door-knob, old cameras and vintage toys.

It was often described as an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ and used by local people who valued the fact that you could pick up a single screw, hinge of picture hook.

It was opened by Robert Mucci, after he returned to Hastings following a decade in Africa where he became an avid collector of African art. He has given talks on the subject and is listed as a specialist in the British Museum’s directory.

Before Robert took it over the premises was a fish and chip shop.

The shop was a warren, with narrow walkways and a myriad of items to grab the attention. There were items on display outside and if that were not enough, there was a side alley packed with more items usually costing only a few pence.

It has become iconic over the years with many people on Trip Advisor and Instagram listing it as their favourite shop.

The future of Robert’s Rummage has been something of an ongoing saga with Robert announcing that he was closing the shop last year to concentrate on his other High Street shop, the more specialised Robert’s Curios. In the end he re-opened Robert’s Rummage saying he preferred to be there.

Now, a year later, the shop is closed and is being emptied out with Robert retiring. Robert is now aged 84 and in in recent years had to fight through a bout of double pneumonia.

Old town residents reacted to the news with sadness at the closure, describing the shop as ‘legendary’ and ‘the heart of the Old Town’.