Inside the Romford ‘treasure trove’ full of antiques

Modernariato – which means modern antiques in English – has been in Romford Shopping Hall for around five years, but owner Isabella Pino says people still “don’t know we are here”.

The Italian-style vintage store sells everything from homeware to cameras, from across the 50s, 60s and 70s.

The shop rivals vintage stores in Shoreditch and Camden (Image: Charlotte Anderson)

The shop is like an Aladdin’s cave, with records lining the entrance walkway, which opens out onto the main shop floor filled with disco-style lamps, small furniture and globes.

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Owner Isabella explained that although they have a treasure trove of items – even including atlases and Beatles’ memorabilia – it is the records that are most popular.

She said: “For ages in Romford there were no record shops.

The vintage shop sells everything from globes to lamps (Image: Isabella Pino) “But people 100 per cent come back for the music and the vinyl – I even have radiograms.”

Despite this, Isabella told the Recorder that people still ask her how long the shop has been in Romford Shopping Hall.

The small business owner said she has started to branch out to online marketplaces but will always be “vintage in the mind”.

Isabella Pino inside her shop Modernariato (Image: Isabella Pino)

Isabella said: “I don’t like it [online selling] too much.

“I like face-to-face, I like negotiations – I want to talk and drink coffee with the clients.”

Modernariato has “millions of things”, according to Isabella, and she wants customers to browse her items and enjoy the vintage feel of her shop – even if they don’t buy anything.